It’s OK for President Duterte to protect police killers of Leyte mayor?

smileredunhappyIn President Rodrigo Duterte’s cabinet, we find the finest men and women in the public and government service.They are cut for the right job. They are ready and up and about to run to the rescue and defense of the chief executive. Include in the group Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II who was quick to switch on the defensive mode side of the President.

For instance, the Secretary said that Mr. Duterte cannot be impeached for publicly announcing he would not allow the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) team led by Supt. Marvin Marcos to go to jail.

Marcos was involved in the killing of Albuera town Mayor Rolando Espinosa inside the Baybay City sub-provincial jail in Leyte.

Aguirre believes that the President made the statement only to emphasize his trust and support to the Philippine National Police in its enforcement of his anti-drug campaign.

He added that President did not commit any culpable violation of the Constitution or betrayal of public trust in issuing such statement.

The Justice Secretary said such pronouncement of the President does not constitute an impeachable offense, contrary to claims of critics like Senators Leila de Lima and Antonio Trillanes, IV.

Aguirre previously served as a private prosecutor in the impeachment trial of the late Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Aguirre belittled Trillanes, who is not a lawyer, thus “knows nothing.” He even rejected the claim of the senator that the President could be held liable for murder after publicly saying that he ordered Espinosa’s killing.

He easily gave an assurance there is no demoralization among the ranks of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) even after the President publicly rejected their findings on criminal liabilities against the CIDG team led by Marcos.

Aguirre II then said on Thursday the agency will continue the preliminary investigation on the case filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) against members of the CIDG-Region 8 in connection with the killing of Espinosa.

The Justice department has created a five-man panel to conduct the preliminary investigation.

It is tasked to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to warrant the filing of a case by the NBI against the policemen involved in the killing of Espinosa and fellow inmate Raul Yap inside the sub-provincial jail in Baybay City last November 5.

Facing a complaint for multiple murder are Superintendent Marvin Wynn Marcos, Superintendent Santi Noel Gaspang Matira, Chief Inspector Leo Daio Laraga, Senior Inspector (SI) Deogracia Pedong Diaz, SI Fritz Bioco Blanco, Senior Police Officer 4 Juanito Ampado Duarte, SPO4 Melvin Mendoza Caboyit, SPO4 Eric Palattao Constantino, SPO2 Benjamin Layague Dacallos, SPO2 Alphinor Milla Serrano, Jr., PO3 Johnny Abuda Ibanez, PO3 Norman Tiu Abellanosa, PO2 Niel Patrimonio Centino, PO1 Bernard Rodriguez Orpilla,

PO3 Lloyd Ortinez Ortiguesa, PO1 Jerlan Sadia Cabiyaan, Cristal Jane Briones Gisma, Divine Grace Baclas Songalia, all assigned at CIDG Regional Office No. 08, Port Area, Tacloban City as well as PCINSP Calixto Cabardo Canillas, Jr., PINSP Lucresito Adana Candelosas, SPO2 Antonio Romangca Docil, SPO1 Mark Christian Castillo Cadilo, PO2 John Ruel Baldevia Doculan, and PO2 Jaime Pacuan Bacsal, all assigned at Regional Maritime Unit 8 Port Area, Tacloban City.

The NBI also recommended the filing of perjury charges against PCINSP Leo Diao Laraga, PO3 Norman T. Abellanosa and Paul Olendan for maliciously obtaining a search warrant.

It will be recalled that citing testimonial and forensic evidence, the NBI said the killing of Espinosa, who has earlier surrendered to the authorities after he and his son, Kerwin Espinosa were named by President Rodrigo Duterte as being involved in the illegal drugs trade, and Yap, were a result of rub-out and not a shootout as claimed by the policemen who conducted the raid.

The police team who conducted the raid insisted that Espinosa shot at them first, prompting them to fire back.

Espinosa was named by President Duterte as being involved in the illegal drugs trade.

Just thinking aloud, is there anything, anything, very vital that Supt. Marvin Marcos know about President Duterte that many do not know yet?

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