(UPDATE) Police on Wednesday arrested a town mayor in Leyte province, who was linked by President Rodrigo Duterte to the illegal drug trade.

Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa, who has been staying at the town's police station since surrendering to authorities in August, was charged with illegal drug possession, said the provincial police chief, Senior Superintendent Franco Simborio.

Espinosa was brought to the Baybay City Regional Trial Court, where the judge ordered that he be detained at the Baybay City Provincial Jail.

No bail was recommended, Simborio said.

Espinosa was also brought to the Western Leyte Provincial Hospital for a medical checkup, according to DZMM.

Two months ago, Espinosa's bodyguards were caught with 237 grams of "shabu" worth P1.9 million in Benolho village, Albuera.

Duterte then asked Espinosa and his son Kerwin to surrender "on the grounds of drug-trafficking and coddling." The younger Espinosa remains at large.

Duterte has linked dozens of policemen, judges and local chief executives to the illegal drugs trade as part of his efforts to save the Philippines from becoming a "narco-state."-- reports from Ranulfo Docdocan?, ABS-CBN

JUST IN: Police serves arrest warrant against Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. | via Ranulfo Docdocan, ABS-CBN News pic.twitter.com/e5EuMD8D4n

— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) October 5, 2016