Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa has been killed while in detention in Baybay City Provincial Jail early Saturday morning.
PNP Regional Director Elmer Beltejar made the confirmation.
He said, the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) operatives were supposed to serve a search warrant on the mayor.
The search warrant was issued by Basey, Samar Regional Trial Court for alleged violation of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.
Further investigations are being conducted.
Espinosa had surrended last August after he was tagged as among the so-called narco-politicians.
He resume work afterwards but was nabbed last October 5, 2016 for charges relating to drugs and firearms.
His son, Kerwin, is facing deportation process in Abu Dhabi.
The younger Espinosa has been accused of operating the illegal drug trade in Visayas.