Masbate jail warden, suspect in Espinosa slay, yie

MASBATE CITY — The city jail warden who was tagged as one of the primary suspects in the killing of Mayor Moises Espinosa Jr., last Aug. 9 in Barangay Bantigue here has surrendered to Task Force Espinosa.

Senior Superintendent Antonio Enteria, Masbate police director, said city jail warden Hector Presado personally went to his office at bout 4 p.m. Thursday accompanied by Board Member Sandra Cam and lawyer Manuel Lim.

The two, however, took custody of Presado with the promise that he would be turned over to police authorities upon the issuance of a warrant of arrest.

Enteria said the surrender came after the task force raided Wednesday the Masbate Provincial Jail in Barangay Matiporon in Milagros town and confiscated six 12 gauge shotguns, a caliber .22 rifle, and assorted ammunition for caliber .45 pistols, caliber 9mm handguns including empty shells from various calibers.

Enteria said the search was conducted in the presence of Supt. Teodoro Caparroso of the regional office, the new provincial jail warden Alejandro Pardon, and provincial jail personnel.

Task Force Espinosa has seven suspects under its custody. They are Rolando Boncaras, Charlie Quidato, Alexander Bermoy, Isagani Quidato, former provincial jail warden, two inmates Alex Altexa Alberto Choy and one Ramil Ayque.

Enteria said multiple murder charges have been filed against Isagani Quidato, Choy, Alteza, Ayque and John Does with the provincial prosecutor‘s office.

Espinosa’s brother, former Vice Governor Mario Espinosa, called on authorities Wednesday to go after the mastermind of the killing.

Espinosa, who was shot during a fiesta dance in the costal village of Bantigue some three kilometers from here died after he was rushed to the Comprehensive Hospital.

Three others died as well, while four others were wounded in the shooting.