A mayor jailed on drug charges has been shot dead in his cell after a reported gun battle with police in the Philippines.
Rolando Espinosa and fellow inmate Raul Yap apparently opened fire as officers looked for firearms and illegal drugs during a raid.
The mayor of Albuera in Leyte is the second local government executive on President Rodrigo Duterte's so-called "narco-list" killed during police operations.
Samsudin Dimaukom, a powerful mayor in Mr Duterte's home province of Mindanao, died along with nine of his guards in a shootout in October.
In the latest incident, a team from the criminal investigation and detection group had gone to issue a search warrant against the detainees.
Following the deadly shootout, police recovered two pistols from their cells.
A small packet of suspected methamphetamine and various drug paraphernalia were also found inside Espinosa's room.
Questions are being asked about how the pair obtained guns and an investigation will follow, as the presidential palace called Espinosa's death "unfortunate".
In August, he turned himself in to police during a nationally televised event after Mr Duterte asked him and his son, Kerwin, to surrender over their alleged involvement in the drug trade.
Espinosa was later released but was arrested on 5 October on charges of illegal drug possession.
He had denied being part of the narcotics trade but said his son was peddling "shabu" (methamphetamine), which he gets from a jailed Chinese drug trader.
Kerwin, allegedly among the biggest illegal drug operators in the Philippines' Eastern Visayas region, was arrested by Abu Dhabi police last month.
More than 2,300 people have been killed in police operations or by suspected vigilantes in an anti-drugs crackdown in the country since the president took office in June.
Follow The Forefront on:
> The Forefront on Twitter
>BBM Channel: C002CB006 {WELCOME TO THE FOREFRONT}
Share this post with others on social media with options below.
|
No comments:
Post a Comment
Disclaimer!!! Opinions expressed in comments do not represent THE FOREFRONT MEDIA NG's views. All participants are entitled to their opinions. Thank you!!!
Advertise on the Forefront: For advert placement in the blog or advert posts like news updates, reach +2348124620827 [WhatsApp].
Copyright 2023 The Forefront Media Ng. All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from The Forefront Media Ng