BAYBAY // Philippine police shot a town mayor dead in his prison cell on Saturday.
It was the second killing in a week of a politician linked to illegal drugs under president Rodrigo Duterte’s violent campaign against crime.
Rolando Espinosa, the mayor of Albuera in the central province of Leyte, and another inmate were shot dead before dawn after they fired at officers who staged a raid in search of firearms and drugs in the provincial jail in Leyte’s Baybay city, police said.
Some Philippine officials and a crime watchdog called for an investigation into the killings.
They questioned how the men obtained weapons and what prompted them to clash with police while in prison.
“I can smell extrajudicial killing,” said senator Panfilo Lacson, the former national police chief.
The dead mayor’s son, Rolando “Kerwin” Espinosa Jr, who is also wanted for major drugs offences, was arrested in Abu Dhabi on October 16 after he fled the Philippines through Malaysia.
He is in custody in Al Wathba jail while police investigate whether he has committed any crimes in the UAE.
The UAE does not have an extradition treaty with the Philippines, but Manila will ask for Espinosa Jr to be repatriated if he faces no charges in the UAE.
Police killed another town mayor, Samsudin Dimaukom, and nine of his men in a gun battle last week in the southern Philippines.
Espinosa Sr and Dimaukom were among more than 160 officials named by Mr Duterte in August in a shame campaign.
Espinosa Sr surrendered to the national police chief in a nationally televised event and denied any part in the drug trade, but said his son had been peddling methamphetamines supplied by a jailed drug trader.
He was released, but arrested last month after being indicted on drugs charges and illegal possession of firearms.
Police estimate that more than 3,600 suspected drug dealers and users have been killed since Mr Duterte took office on June 30.
Many of those killed in the initial months were impoverished drug dealers. Police said high-value targets, including mayors and drug lords, would be the focus of a new phase launched last month.
* Associated Press with reporting from The National
RESULTS
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5,30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,200m
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Winner: Ihtesham, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: AF Mekhbat, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel
Manchester United v Club America
When: Thursday, 9pm Arizona time (Friday UAE, 8am)
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 2,200m
Winner: Arjan, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer).
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: Jap Nazaa, Royston Ffrench, Irfan Ellahi.
6pm: Al Ruwais Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 1,200m
Winner: RB Lam Tara, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinal.
6.30pm: Shadwell Gold Cup Prestige Dh125,000 1,600m
Winner: AF Sanad, Bernardo Pinheiro, Khalifa Al Neyadi.
7pm: Shadwell Farm Stallions Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Patrick Cosgrave, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
7.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner: Dubai Canal, Harry Bentley, Satish Seemar.
Recipe
Garlicky shrimp in olive oil
Gambas Al Ajillo
Preparation time: 5 to 10 minutes
Cooking time: 5 minutes
Serves 4
Ingredients
180ml extra virgin olive oil; 4 to 5 large cloves of garlic, minced or pureed (or 3 to 4 garlic scapes, roughly chopped); 1 or 2 small hot red chillies, dried (or ¼ teaspoon dried red chilli flakes); 400g raw prawns, deveined, heads removed and tails left intact; a generous splash of sweet chilli vinegar; sea salt flakes for seasoning; a small handful of fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped
Method
▶ Heat the oil in a terracotta dish or frying pan. Once the oil is sizzling hot, add the garlic and chilli, stirring continuously for about 10 seconds until golden and aromatic.
▶ Add a splash of sweet chilli vinegar and as it vigorously simmers, releasing perfumed aromas, add the prawns and cook, stirring a few times.
▶ Once the prawns turn pink, after 1 or 2 minutes of cooking, remove from the heat and season with sea salt flakes.
▶ Once the prawns are cool enough to eat, scatter with parsley and serve with small forks or toothpicks as the perfect sharing starter. Finish off with crusty bread to soak up all that flavour-infused olive oil.
Spare
Profile
Company name: Spare
Started: March 2018
Co-founders: Dalal Alrayes and Saurabh Shah
Based: UAE
Sector: FinTech
Investment: Own savings. Going for first round of fund-raising in March 2019
