MANILA - Senate President Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel on Wednesday floated the idea of reopening a legislative inquiry into the death of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. after the Department of Justice downgraded the charges against policemen accused of killing the local official during a predawn raid at a provincial jail.

"The best way for the Senate to be involved is to reopen the hearing and request for copies of the counter-affidavits or whatever other papers or documents that the respondents filed," Pimentel told reporters.

PANOORIN: Senate President Pimentel, pinabubuksan ang imbestigasyon ng Senado sa pagpatay kay Albuera Mayor Espinosa | via @ZandroDZMM pic.twitter.com/1xBC1A0Cli — DZMM TeleRadyo (@DZMMTeleRadyo) June 21, 2017

Espinosa was once tagged as the protector of the narcotics ring of his son, Kerwin.

The mayor and a fellow inmate were shot dead by policemen led by Supt. Marvin Marcos during a predawn search on their detention cells.

Two Senate panels and the DOJ's National Bureau of Investigation said in separate reports that Espinosa's killing was "premeditated" by the police to cover up their involvement in the illegal drug activities of the mayor.

Recently, however, the murder charges against the 19 policemen were downgraded to the bailable offense of homicide because of the absence of evident premeditation. They are now out on bail.

Pimentel said a reopening of the Senate probe will task the DOJ to explain why it downgraded the charges.

"Posible kasi iba ang sinabi sa hearing, iba ang sinabi sa counter affidavit," he noted. -- With a report from Zandro Ochona, ABS-CBN News