MANILA - An inmate killed during a raid at the Abuyog penal colony in Leyte on Thursday supplied drugs to suspected drug kingpin Kerwin Espinosa, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said.

PDEA-Eastern Visayas Director Director Edgar Jubay said the slain inmate, Edgar Allen Alvarez, was transferred to Leyte from the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) in 2011.

Jubay said Alvarez was convicted of murder but may have been recruited into the narcotics trade by his NBP detainees, who were involved with illegal drugs.

Additional raids will be conducted at the Leyte regional prison, Jubay mentioned.

Alvarez was killed during today's raid after he tried to fight Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group operatives. Thursday's raid also yielded a fragmented grenade, caliber .45 pistol, caliber .38 revolver, ammunition and a pack of suspected dried marijuana leaves.

Inmate killed as cops raid Abuyog penal colony

PNP Chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa earlier said suspected drug lord Kerwin Espinosa gets his supply of illegal drugs from a Chinese convict at the Abuyog Penal Colony.

The information came from Espinosa's father, Albuera (Leyte) Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr., who surrendered to the police last week.

Jail Superintendent Geraldo Aro, however, denied the allegations, adding that there is no Chinese drug convict currently detained at the facility.

Aro said he will take full responsibility if a drug laboratory is found inside the facility.

No drug facility in Leyte prison, says chief