THE Department of Justice (DOJ) resolution on the November 5, 2016 killing of Albuera, Leyte mayor Rolando Espinosa will be out soon, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said Wednesday.
"Yes. Any day," Aguirre said when asked for update on the case.
During his confirmation hearing last February 1, Aguirre told the Commission on Appointments (CA) that the case was already submitted for resolution and the resolution was expected "within the next few days".
On Wednesday, Aguirre said they were still waiting for the signature of Prosecutor General Victor Sepulveda, who was on leave.
After conducting four hearings, the DOJ concluded last February 2 its investigation into the murder complaints filed against 24 members of the Philippine National Police - Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) in Eastern Visayas who were accused of conspiring to kill Espinosa inside his cell at the Baybay, Leyte Sub-provincial jail on November 5.
Aside from the murder complaints, complaints for malicious procurement of search warrants against Espinosa and another slain inmate, Raul Yap, were also filed against the PNP-CIDG members led by Police Superintendent Marvin Marcos.
Search warrants for Espinosa and Yap were issued because they allegedly possessed of illegal drugs and firearms inside their respective cells.
The National Bureau of Investigation has recommended the filing of charges against the policemen after it found out that the incident that resulted to the death of the two inmates was a rubout, not a shootout. (SunStar Philippines)