CIDG disgusted over dismissal of cases vs ‘high-value’ suspects

ORMOC CITY, Philippines – “This is devastating.” This was the description of what Chief Inspector Elvis Angay-angay he felt over the dismissal of cases against high-value suspects at the prosecutor’s level.

Angay-angay, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group here, cited the junking of the charges of attempted homicide and possession of firearms and explosives against Rolan Espinoza, allegedly the biggest drug lords hereabouts.

“We tried to do our job and we have filed a motion for reconsideration” of the dismissal of cases at the prosecutor’s offices here and in Baybay City, said the CIDG official.

Judge Crescente Maraya of the Regional Trial Court-Calubian quashed the warrant he issued against Espinoza, alias Kerwin, leading to the dismissal of the complaint for possession of ammunition and explosives the CIDG filed at the RTC in Baybay City.

Then, on March 19, the CIDG had to release Espinoza, together with seven other co-accused, after Ormoc City Prosecutor Marcelo Oñate dismissed the complaints of attempted homicide filed against them for lack of probable cause.

The CIDG operatives conducted the March 25 raid of the house of Simban Limbona at Barangay Tambulilid, this city, but failed to arrest him. They arrested Espinoza and his alleged co-horts instead, and found several firearms, illegal drugs and paraphernalia.

Later that day, they served on Espinoza a separate search warrant for his house at Brgy. Benolho of Albuera town in Leyte, where ammunitions and grenade were found.

Only four of the suspects are now facing complaints of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition: Nelson Pepito Jr., son of a town councilor of Albuera, Leyte; Marcelo Adorco, who has a pending case for illegal possession of high-powered firearms at the Ormoc RTC after being caught at a Comelec checkpoint in March 2013; Fernando Ipil; and Roberto Luherta.

A fifth suspect, Kris Dominick Diano y Hiyas, is now facing a charge of possession of illegal drug paraphernalia.

Espinoza, for his part, denied allegations that he was a “drug lord,” saying he was a legitimate businessman who got his fortune from a P 12-million winnings during a “Digmaan Derby” at the Araneta Coliseum in 2012.

He added that his relatives from the United States also sent him money to help him reform and turn a new leaf from vices. He did not deny getting involved in a drug related case in Cebu, but then he said it has since been dismissed.   (FREEMAN)