Netizens on Saturday expressed their disbelief at a police account that Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. was killed after allegedly shooting at authorities inside his own jail cell.

Espinosa and fellow inmate Raul Yap were killed inside the Baybay Provincial Jail in Leyte after engaging police in a firefight, according to authorities.

But some Twitter and Facebook users were convinced that it was "murder" and that it was only a question of who masterminded the crime.

Albuera Mayor Espinosa nabaril at napatay sa loob ng kulungan??? Weehhh pinatay yan. Gasgas na alibi niyo. — Vince Espinosa (@conVINCEro) November 5, 2016

Albuera is killed while in custody. It doesnt matter who killed him - pulahan or dilawan or whatever. It is murder! — Warren Bituin (@shashintaker) November 5, 2016

So bad,Albuera Mayor Espinosa has been assassinated. For sure,theres someone behind his death. — Shaira Marie Tugonon (@shaixxmarie) November 5, 2016

Other users, including Ifugao Representative Teddy Baguilat, pinned the blame on the Philippine National Police.

Pity the idealistic cop. Must be hard keeping a conscience habang kino-cover up ng mga kasama ang mga executions, rub-outs, faulty encounter — Teddy B. Baguilat (@Teddy_Baguilat) November 5, 2016

hmm.. the CIDG had done something fishy on to Albuera Mayor Espinosa — Alvim Romero (@ADDARit) November 5, 2016

Death of albuera mayor too fishy.. just way to fishy.. jail system crap.. — Deejay Aquino (@dj_dj321) November 5, 2016

Another netizen questioned the need to issue a search warrant against inmates.

paanong nasa kulungan na si Albuera Mayor Espinosa pero kelangan pang issue-han ng search warrant? so aminadong may nakakalusot pa..😠 — L.padilla™ (@quilou0918) November 5, 2016

But if allegations that Espinosa had a gun inside his cell are true, the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption said the government must probe how the mayor managed to bring firearms into the detention facility.