Gordon believes Espinosa murdered

CEBU, Philippines - "It's an assassination."

This was the statement of Senator Richard Gordon on the death of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa, Sr. inside his jail cell at the Baybay City Sub-Provincial Jail in Leyte last week.

Gordon who leads the Senate investigation into the incident believes, nevertheless, that President Rodrigo Duterte will prosecute those involved in the "premeditated murder."

Duterte himself linked Espinosa to the illegal drug trade.

Gordon believes Duterte's leaning towards the police in connection with Espinosa's death is merely to boost the morale of the cops.

"That's the way he is but the president knows his law. I am confident that he will do the right thing by prosecuting them. But whether he likes it or not, those involved in the killing will be prosecuted. We are still government of laws and not of men," Gordon said.

"There is an overwhelming superiority in numbers. To serve a search warrant at night in a jail even if a warrant is not needed and the warrant was held by them for six days," he pointed out.

He said the Senate will resume its investigation next week.

Gordon said Espinosa's death may change the minds of those who want to surrender and even derail the government's war against illegal drugs.

"Yan ang sinasabi ko. Everybody's gonna fight," the senator said.

Gordon was in Cebu yesterday to inaugurate the facility of the Philippine Red Cross in Mandaue City.

Espinosa was arrested for illegal drug possession in October this year. A few days after, his son, Kerwin, an alleged druglord, was arrested in Abu Dhabi. Both were living in Cebu before transferring to Albuera, Leyte. (FREEMAN)