House Committee on Transportation chaired by Antipolo City Rep. Romeo Acop
THE death of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa, who was killed in a jail cell during a police raid in 2016, continues to be a subject of intense scrutiny and controversy.
Antipolo City Rep. Romeo Acop, a lawyer and vice chair of the House Quad Comm, recently made a startling claim during a hearing on drug war-related extrajudicial killings and human rights violations. Acop asserted that Espinosa was killed because of the substantial reward offered by the Duterte administration to law enforcement and hired guns who murdered suspects during the drug war.
Espinosa, who was accused by President Duterte of being involved in the drug trade, surrendered to authorities in 2016. He was later arrested on drug charges and detained at the Baybay City Provincial Jail. On November 5, 2016, police conducted a raid on the jail, claiming that Espinosa and another inmate, Raul Yap, fired upon them, leading to a shootout that resulted in their deaths.
Acop’s statement, made during an October 11, 2023 hearing, reignited the debate surrounding Espinosa’s death, which has been widely condemned as an extrajudicial killing. The Quad Comm’s investigation aims to shed light on the alleged reward system and its potential role in the numerous deaths during the drug war.
The investigation is further complicated by the fact that the Duterte administration has denied any involvement in extrajudicial killings and has defended the actions of law enforcement during the drug war. Senator Bato dela Rosa, who served as the Philippine National Police chief during the drug war, has also refused to cooperate with the Quad Comm’s investigation.
The Quad Comm’s investigation, which has sought assistance from the Commission on Audit (COA) and the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), is a crucial step towards achieving justice for the victims of the drug war and holding those responsible accountable.
