Napolcom widens probe into Mayor Espinosa slay

The National Police Commission is revisiting the slay case of suspected drug lord Fernando Balagbis inside the Baybay City Provincial Jail as the incident has similarities with the killing of Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa.

Police authorities serving a search warrant claimed Balagbis fired at them, prompting them to  fire back.

Five days after the death of Balagbis, Mayor Espinosa last November 5 succumbed to a similar incident—he was shot to death supposedly after firing at the police personnel serving a warrant to search his detention cell at the Baybay City Sub-Provincial Jail.

A report on GMA News' Unang Balita on Thursday said that the Napolcom is doing a re-investigation on the Balagbis slay in efforts to widen the probe into the killing of Mayor Espinosa.

According to the report, the re-investigation is headed by the Regional Internal Affairs Service and the Scene of the Crime Operations (SOCO) in Region 8.

Security at the Baybay City Provincial Jail has been tightened due to the ongoing investigation.

Espinosa's death has given way to doubts over the government's capability to protect suspects under its custody.