ORMOC CITY – The discovery of P88 million worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu inside his house might just prove a strong evidence that Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. is engaging in the selling of the prohibited drugs. On Wednesday (August 10), police operatives raided the house of the embattled mayor which resulted for the discovery of around 11 kilograms of shabu valued at P88 million, considered the biggest haul of shabu so far in the region. The raid in the house of Espinosa, located in sitio Tinago II, Barangay Binulho, was by virtue of a search warrant issued by Judge Carlos Arguelles, presiding judge of Regional Trial Court-Branch 14 in Baybay City.
Aside from the local police, the 5 am raid was participated by the members of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, provincial and regional police. Espinosa, 53, while being accused to be in the illegal drug trade, has repeatedly denied the allegation. His son, Rolan but most known of his alias as “Kerwin,” is considered to be the region’s top drug lord whose illegal operation also includes Cebu. Kerwin, who is the subject of a shoot to kill order, remains at large while Mayor Espinosa is said to be confined in one of the hospitals in Cebu City. The mayor had earlier surrendered before Police Director General Ronald de la Rosa. Chief Inspector Jovie Espinido, town police chief, said that the illegal drugs were found in the kitchen of the house. This is the second time that the packs of shabu were found inside the house of Espinosa, who is serving his first term as mayor of Albuera, 15 kms away from this city. Last July 28, police operatives found and seized shabu worth P1.9 million and several high powered firearms. The latest raid to the house of the mayor also yielded several bomb parts and dozens of police camouflage uniforms. The firearms recovered are being used by the alleged armed men of Espinosa, Espenido said. Espenido believes that everything happens through the guidance of God Almighty. “Praise the Lord for leading us to all these accomplishments,” the Bible-quoting police official said. “If ever there is information that other houses of the Espinosas contain illegal items, we will apply search warrant”, Espenido said. Anti-Money Laundering Act has been applied against the new mayor to temporarily put a freeze on their property while investigation is going on, Espenido declared.
