Press Release
June 20, 2017

Hontiveros brands Aguirre "flip-flop king" on Espinosa killing, calls it "the last straw"

Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday assailed anew Department of Justice (DoJ) Secretary Vitalliano Aguirre and called him a "flip-flop king" for approving the downgrading of charges against the policemen accused in the killing of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa.

Hontiveros said that prior to the downgrading of charges against the accused policemen, led by Supt. Marvin Marcos, Aguirre's department issued a resolution on March 2017 supporting the findings of both the Senate and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) that the Espinosa killing was a clear case of premeditated murder.

"This is an obvious attempt at a cover up through an unabashed flip-flop. It is an act of impunity to cover up another act of impunity," Hontiveros said.

The Senator said that by downgrading the charges against the accused in the Espinosa killing, Secretary Aguirre also effectively further downgraded his reputation and integrity before the public's eyes.

"From being the fake news king of Padre Faura, Secretary Aguirre is also now immortalized as the DoJ's flip-flop king, a would be absolver of murderers," Hontiveros said.

Hontiveros said that she will ask the Senate to invite Aguirre to explain his department's decision to downgrade the charges of the accused.

"This may be the last straw for many of us. We cannot allow Secretary Aguirre to continue to toy around with our justice system. Enough's enough," Hontiveros said.

It was reported that the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs recommended last March the filing of murder charges against the policemen, led by Supt. Marvin Marcos. The Committee, led by Senator Panfilo Lacson, concluded that the policemen murdered Espinosa inside a jail in Baybay, Leyte. The NBI also reached the same findings saying that the Espinosa killing was a rubout and not a shootout.

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