STA. FE, LEYTE, Philippines — A police official, who was one of 34 policemen reportedly linked to the drug trade of Kerwin Espinosa, was killed in an ambush at around 10 a.m. yesterday along the highway at Barangay Pilit, about a kilometer away from the town proper of Sta. Fe in Leyte.
Leyte Provincial Police Office Director, Senior Superintendent Franco Simborio, who went to the crime scene, identified the fatality as 46-year-old Chief Inspector Hesus Napoles Son, who was under floating status and camp restriction at the Police Regional Office-8 headquarters.
Son was among of the 34 policemen recently named by witnesses of Albuera Police Station, as among those “receiving” drug payola from Espinosa, son of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. and allegedly a drug lord operating in Eastern Visayas.
Son, who was in complete police uniform, was driving alone in his white Crosswind SUV (plate number HAP 151) on his way to Pastrana town where his wife was a former councilor.
While cruising the highway, at least five men on an Innova car came abreast Son’s car and fired at the police official with M-16 armalite rifles. The windshield of Son’s car was totally broken by a spray of bullets that fatally hit the victim’s head and neck.
Bystanders who saw the shooting told police investigators that the gunmen immediately sped off westward from the scene.
Simborio said he already ordered his men, and the Scene of the Crime Operatives to conduct a thorough investigation and gather every bit of information leading to the resolution of the incident. “We could not yet say if the killing has something to do with (Son’s) involvement in the drug trade,” he told The Freeman.
SOCO personnel found from Son’s vehicle a “baby armalite,” cellphone and documents, and at least 11 different vehicle plate numbers.
PRO-8 Acting Regional Director Chief Superintendent Elmer Beltejar condemned the killing of the police official, saying that he asked witnesses’ cooperation for the immediate arrest of the perpetrators.
Beltejar confirmed that Son and 33 other policemen listed as linked to the Espinosa’s drug trade, were undergoing a pre-charge investigation at the Regional Internal Affairs Service after being recalled from their fields of assignments.
Patrocinio, father of the slain Son, appealed for swift investigation and solution to the killing. He also recalled that yesterday morning, hours before the incident, Albuera Police chief, Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido warned Son to be on alert of his security because of reports that there were people who were out to kill him.
Son just dismissed this warning, his father said, adding that he had no prior knowledge if his son was indeed involved in the drug trade. (FREEMAN)