ILOILO City – Barangay Captain Keith “Dabing” Espinosa of Monica Blumentritt, the wife of detained drug suspect Jesus “Jing-jing” Espinosa Jr., wanted to take an indefinite leave of absence.
But Mayor Jose Espinosa III said he turned the plan down, so the barangay captain settled for a three-month leave of absence – actually an extension of the month-long leave she took from July 21 to Aug. 21.
Espinosa was investigated by the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) for the continued proliferation of illegal drugs in her barangay. It found her liable for grave misconduct and gross neglect of duty.
In taking a leave of absence, Espinosa cited “some personal matter to attend to.”
She designated Barangay Monica Blumentritt council’s No. 1 councilman Antonio Espinosa, an uncle, as acting barangay captain until Nov. 21.
Under Civil Service rules, government officials and employees can avail themselves of a maximum leave of absence of one year without pay, apart from leave credits available.
According to Atty. Ferdinand Panes, chief of the Department of Interior and Local Government – Iloilo City, if a government official or employee fails to return to work after his or her approved leave of absence expires, he or she may be held liable for abandonment of function.
Despite the illegal drugs issue hounding her, Espinosa won her reelection bid in the recent May barangay election. But in July, she said in a radio interview she feared for her safety.
A fellow barangay captain that the SP also investigated in 2016 for alleged illegal drug links – Barangay Bakhaw, Mandurriao’s Remia Prevendido Gregori – was shot to death by unidentified armed men in June 24.
On July 11, Espinosa tried unsuccessfully to have an audience with the Police Regional Office 6 director, Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao, in Camp Delgado to supposedly clear her name.
According to Bulalacao, intelligence reports linking Espinosa to illegal drugs as suspected protector were consistent.
“If she is not involved in illegal drugs, she has nothing to be afraid of,” said Bulalacao./PN
