The panel of prosecutors of the Department of Justice (DOJ) held a preliminary investigation on Tuesday morning into the charges filed against the 24 policemen of PNP Region 8 who are involved in the death of Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa and fellow inmate Raul Yap.
The cops are facing charges of multiple murder and perjury filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
PNP CIDG Region 8 Director Supt. Marvin Marcos led the respondents who attended the hearing, along with 23 others from the CIDG Region 8 and PNP Maritime Unit.
Also present was CIDG-8 Team Leader Chief Inspector Leo Laraga who had shot Espinosa.
Fourteen of those charged still do not have lawyers.
The DOJ prosecutors gave the accused until January 23 to submit their counter-affidavits.
Paul Olendan, the witness whose alleged false testimony led to the issuance of a search warrant from the court, was absent in the preliminary investigation.
The NBI’s finding revealed that the death of Espinosa and Yap on November 5, 2016 while inside Baybay City Sub-Provincial Jail was a case of ‘rubout’ and not a shootout as police claimed.
