Drug angle eyed in Espinosa killing

LEGAZPI CITY — Aside from politics, government probers are eyeing illegal drugs as another likely angle in the killing of Mas—bate City Mayor Moises Espinosa Jr. last Aug. 9.

Chief Superintendent Enrique Galang, Bicol police director, said yesterday the illegal drugs angle cropped up after police records of the arrested suspects showed their alleged involvement in illegal drug activities in Masbate and other parts of the region.

Galang said the slain mayor was a known anti-drug crusader.

"It’s not a remote possibility that a drug syndicate could be behind his death," Galang said.

Under police custody at pre—sent are five suspects who, except for Isagani Quidato, were arrested in a series of raids.

Quidato voluntarily surrendered to Galang following the arrest of his brother, former Masbate provincial warden, Charlie Qui—dato, last Saturday.

Galang, however, said investigators were not yet totally ruling out the political angle.

"While we are now considering illegal drugs as another possible angle, the political angle remains," he said, citing the intense political rivalries in the province.

Galang noted, for instance, the alleged involvement of the former warden and inmates of the provincial jail which is under the supervision of the provincial government.

The other detained suspects are Alex Alteza and Alberto Choy, both inmates of the provincial jail whom Charlie Quidato allegedly allowed to escape before the May 14 elections, and Rolando Boncaras, said to be one of the three triggermen in the killing (one of them Isagani Quidato).

Meanwhile, Galang called on witnesses to the Espinosa murder to come forward and help authorities solve the crime. He promised full protection for them.

Galang said investigators are now gathering intelligence information on the reported involvement of the detained suspects in the illegal drugs trade in Masbate.

Before the Espinosa killing, there were intelligence reports that Masbate was being used as an "entry point" of illegal drugs. — With Celso Amo