President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered a town mayor to surrender within 24 hours, or else face being shot on sight, a spokesman said.
Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said Duterte is demanding Albuera, Leyte Mayor Ronaldo Espinosa Sr. and his son Kerwin Espinosa to immediately surrender, "on the grounds of drug-trafficking and coddling."
If both fail to surrender within 24 hours, an "order of 'shoot on sight' will be given if they resist and endanger the lives of arresting police officers," Abella said.
This comes days after Espinosa's bodyguards were arrested in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Benolho. Seized from the suspects were around 237 grams of suspected shabu worth about P1.9 million.
Suspects were identified as Jessie Ocarez, 34; and Marcelo Adorco, 40.
Also arrested were Jose Antipuesto, 36; Ernesto Dumalat, 20; and Jeffrey Pesquera, 39.