Cops accused of killing mayor, inmate ask prosecutors to dismiss case

January 23, 2017

Policemen accused of killing Mayor Rolando Espinosa of Albuera, Leyte and inmate Raul Yap on Monday have asked the justice deparment to dismiss the criminal charges against them.

During a preliminary hearing by the justice department, twenty-three out of the 24 respondents charged with murder, robbery, malicious procurement of search warrant, perjury and planting of evidence submitted their counter-affidavits denying complaint filed by the National Bureau of Investigation.

Speaking on behalf of the 12 lawyers representing the policemen,  Roland Inting said the NBI failed to establish conspiracy among 24 police officers.

“Conspiracy has to be proven with the same evidence as what they say about the alleged murder [but] they have not come up such an evidence,” Inting told reporters.

He said respondents gave a detailed account when Espinosa and Yap were shot inside the jail.

Inting claimed the NBI included as respondents several policemen who were not part of the November 5 operation.

Espinosa’s son, Kerwin appeared before the justice department and submitted a complaint affidavit against the same policemen.

Lailano Villarino, Espinosa’s lawyer, said the complaint was basically similar to the complaint filed by the NBI.

Prosecutors gave the policemen up to February 2 to respond to Espinosa’s affidavit. DMS