Philippine National Police (PNP) Regional director Elmer Beltejar told GMA News Espinosa was shot dead by an unknown assailant.
Beltejar added the Criminal Investigation anf Detection Group (CIDG) was set to serve a warrant on Espinosa.
“It was a warrant application. It was purely CIDG. Walang coordination with PNP Region 8,” he said.
PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa on Saturday assured the public that there will be no whitewash in the police's investigations into the killing of Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa inside a detention facility.
Dela Rosa, who was in Las Vegas to watch Sen. Manny Pacquiao's fight, said he immediately ordered "impartial and independent" investigations after receiving initial information on the killing of Espinosa during an alleged shootout with operatives of the provnicial unit of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Northern Leyte.
Dela Rosa said he ordered the CIDG's mother unit based in Camp Crame, the Police Regional Office (PRO) 8 and the Internal Affairs Service (IAS) to conduct independent investigations.
He said the CIDG-Northern Leyte team, led by Chief Inspector Leo Laraga, will be the subject of the investigation.
"Gusto kong malaman ang katotohanan... We will conduct a proper investigation. 'Wag po kayong mag-alala, ang taumbayan. Kung kayo ay nangangamba na magkaroon ng whitewash ang investigation, kahit CIDG ang kasama sa iimbestigahan, ito po ay CIDG ng national headquarters, PRO 8 at IAS ang [magsasagawa ng imbestigasyon]," the PNP chief said in a Balitanghali interview.
"Sisiguraduhin natin na malinis, na impartial investigation," he added.