War on Drugs: Leyte mayor, son, shoot on sight if don’t surrender in 24 hours

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The mayor of Albuera town in Leyte province and his son are given only 24 hours by President Rodrigo Duterte to surrender to police authorities.

On Monday, Duterte gave the mayor of Albuera, Leyte and his son, who are both being linked to illegal drugs, 24 hours to surrender or face “shoot on sight.”

Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a statement: ”Today President Rodrigo R. Duterte demanded the surrender of Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr., of Albuera, Leyte and his son, Kerwin Espinosa, on the grounds of drug-trafficking and coddling, within 24 hours, otherwise an order of “shoot on sight” will be given if they resist and endanger the lives of arresting police officer.”

Reports said Espinosa has gone on leave since about two weeks ago.

Two of Espinosa’s body guards and his three employees were arrested during a buy-bust operation on Thursday last week, July 28, at the tennis court near the houses of the mayor and his son at Sitio Tinago, in Barangay Benoldo, Albuera.

Police recovered at least P1.9 million worth of suspected shabu from the operation, conducted particularly against one Jose Antipuesto, the caretaker of the mayor’s fighting cocks.

Combined elements of the local police and the Regional Police Safety Battalion were able to arrest Antipuesto, Jeffrey Pesquera, and Ernesto Espenido and the mayor’s bodyguards Jessi Ocares and Marcelo Adorco.

Four other suspects were able to evade arrest when they went inside Kerwin’s house.

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