Richard Gomez part of ‘Espinosa drug group’ — CIDG team leader

Actor-turned-Ormoc City mayor Richard Gomez were among the local politicians who have illegal drug dealings with the late Albuera, Leyte mayor Rolando Espinosa, Police Chief Inspector Leo Laraga, head of a team from the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) revealed on Thursday.

At the hearing of Senate Committee on Public Order, Laraga said their team had to apply for a search warrant from the provincial court of Samar because there were some local officials in Leyte province who were part of the so-called “Espinosa drug group”.

“May mga personality na involved doon sa Espinosa drug group mismo galing din ito sa [Leyte]— nabanggit na rin ito ni late Mayor Espinosa regarding doon sa mga politiko na involved and at the same time, ‘yung mga nasa PNP (Philippine National Police),” Laraga said.

Laraga was the head of the team from the CIDG Region 8 who served the search warrant to Espinosa at about 4 a.m. on Saturday, November 5. The CIDG operation lead to the death of Espinosa and another inmate, a certain Raul Yap, in what Laraga’s team claimed as a shoot out.

Laraga said the local officials he was referring to are specifically from the city governments of Baybay and Ormoc and from the provincial government Leyte.

“Yung sa Baybay City is involved. Yung vice mayor ng Baybay City, allegedly yung governor ng Leyte, the mayor of Ormoc City, and the congressman of the third district of Leyte,” Laraga said.
Laraga refused at first to name the officials he was referring to, but eventually gave in upon the egging of Senate Majority Leader Vincete Sotto III.

“Sina Baybay Vice Mayor Mike Cari, Leyte Governor Leopoldo Petilla, Ormoc Mayor Richard Gomez and Rep. Vicente Veloso,” Laraga said.

Laraga said he personally heard the names of these politicians from Albuera Municipal Police chief Inspector Jovie Espenido in a case conference.

“Sinabi niya (Espenido) ’yun personally ‘yung mga pangalan na sinabi ko na binanggit ni Mayor [Espinosa],” Laraga said.

Richard Gomez denies links to Espinosa drug ring, says he advocates clean & healthy lifestyle

The camp of Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez has threatened to file charges against those falsely linking him to illegal drug operations.

Atty. Alex Avisado Jr., lawyer of Gomez, said his client is not involved in any illegal drug activities and has always advocated clean and healthy lifestyle.

“Mayor Richard “Goma” Gomez, Cong. Lucy Torres Gomez and Board Member Matt Torres have always been against drugs. They are advocates of a clean, active and healthy lifestyle. They have not and and will never get involved in drugs,” Avisado said in a statement shared by Gomez on Facebook.

“They were resoundingly elected by the people of Ormoc and the 4th District of Leyte based on their solid anti drug campaign. So to those who are desperately trying to destroy their reputation you have been warned! Put up or shut up! We will see you in court!” he added.

Gomez was reportedly among the Leyte local officials implicated in the affidavit of slain Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa.

Source: http://politics.com.ph/richard-gomez-part-espinosa-drug-group-cidg-team-leader/