MANILA - A widow on Monday accused Supt. Marvin Marcos, sacked chief of Region 8’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), of masterminding the death of her husband who allegedly refused to participate in an assassination plot against Albuera Mayor Roland Espinosa.

Mylene Son told senators that her husband, Chief Inspector Hesus Son, had not been on speaking terms with Marcos due to the political rivalries of their family.

In the 2016 polls, Marcos’ wife, Marites, ran for vice mayor of Pastrana, Leyte but lost to Son's father-in-law, Edgar Empillo Sr.

Mylene said her husband wanted to make amends with Marcos so Son jumped at the opportunity when the CIDG-8 head started talking to him again about a "special project."

But the project, she said, turned to be a hit on Espinosa, who had named officials protecting the drug ring of his son "Kerwin."

"I asked him what special project was that and he told me it was Mayor Espinosa's life in exchange for P500,000," Mylene said.

Mylene said she and another family friend convinced Son to back out of the assassination plot as Marcos may double-cross him and pin him as the "fall guy."

Son's rejection of the plan "made Marcos furious," she said.

DEATH THREATS

On September 15, the night before he was killed, Son allegedly told his wife that he may soon die.

"He told me, 'My life might end today or tomorrow.' I never took it seriously because I thought it would not get that far," Mylene said.

On the same night, Son wrote on his joint Facebook account with his wife: “Pulis sa pulis, offer ka nga, naka-Witness Protection Program naman tapos double cross mo kami, wala kang bayag.

"Subukin mo ako hamunin nang harapan, I’m sure may mamamatay sa atin. 'Wag mo ako traydurin, 'di kita uurungan."

Mylene said the message was meant for Marcos.

The following day, unidentified assailants ambushed and killed Son along the national highway of Barangay Piilit, Sta. Fe in Leyte.

WATCH: An emotional Mylene Son says she now fears for the lives of her loved ones, asks for protection. pic.twitter.com/aLF1s89X6p

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

MARCOS ASSAILS ESPINOSA CHARACTER

Marcos, for his part, denied the allegation, saying that he did not have any motive to kill Espinosa, unlike Son.

"Baka po si Major Son may motibong patayin si Mayor," he said, noting that the slain cop was among 33 officers tagged by the Eastern Visayas Police Office as drug coddlers of the Espinosa drug ring.

(It may be Major Son who has a motive to kill the mayor.)

When he learned of the regional police unit's report, Son himself threatened to kill the Albuera mayor in front of other police officers, Marcos claimed.

"Sabi niya, 'Ako ang papatay sa mga Espinosa, ako ang papatay kay Mayor," he said.

(He said, I'll kill the Espinosas, I'll kill Mayor.)

Son also allegedly insisted that higher-ranking officers, including a "Superintendent Cled" and "Senior Superintendent Tobias",
should also be in the report.

Marcos said he only learned of Son's ambush while attending a meeting at the police regional office.

He also argued that he would not have been appointed as CIDG-8 chief if not for his previously untarnished reputation.

ESPENIDO'S LINK WITH SLAIN COP

Marcos also brought up a radio interview with Son's father who said that his son had argued with another police official on the phone before he was killed.

This official, Marcos said, was Albuera police chief Jovie Espenido.

"Tinanong siya if may duda sila kung sino ang pumatay kay Major Son. Ang sinagot po ng tatay ni Major Son, a day before namatay si Major Son, may kausap siya na opisyal na nagtalo si telepono at doon na nagsimula na naaburido si Major Son," he said.

"Hindi po ako binabanggit na opisyal doon... si Major Espenido."

(He was asked if he had suspicions on who may have killed Major Son. The father answered that a day before he was killed, Son argued with an official over the phone and he started getting agitated afterwards. I was not the official mentioned, it was Major Espenido.)

Espenido, for his part, admitted that he talked with Son but only about the latter's offer to identify officers engaging in the drug trade.

"Si Major Son, nag-text ba yun, naghanap siya ng kakampi na tulungan siya kasi kung gusto ko raw malinis ang hanay ng pulis sa Region 8 na mga sangkot, nakakatanggap ng payola, magtulong siya na mag-check iyung malalaking ranggo," he said.

(Major Son was looking for an ally in cleaning up the police ranks of Region 8. He said if I wanted to, he would help check the ranking officers.)

• READ: Lacson sees pattern in Espinosa-linked police killings