World Bulletin / News Desk

A Philippines mayor linked by President Rodrigo Duterte to the illegal drug trade was shot dead in jail early morning Saturday, authorities have said.

Rolando Espinosa, mayor of Albuera town, was killed in his cell after officers said he shot at them during a search for illegal firearms, Albuera town police chief Jovie Espenido confirmed to reporters.

Espinosa was detained at the Baybay City Provinical Jail and killed around 4 a.m. (2000GMT Friday) along with inmate Raul Yap, GMA News reported.

"The two of them fired shots, prompting operatives to fire back, which resulted in their death," said CIDG Region 8's Supt. Melvin Marcos.

On Aug. 1, Duterte demanded the surrender of the mayor and his son Kerwin within 24 hours or face a "shoot on sight" order over alleged involvement in drug trafficking.

The elder Espinosa surrendered to police the next day, and repeatedly pleaded for his son to do the same.

Espinosa was the second mayor to be killed since Duterte launched a campaign against illegal drugs in July.

In October, a Maguindanao mayor -- Samsudin Dimaukom -- and nine members of his entourage died after a clash broke out when anti-drug state operatives flagged down his convoy.

Dimaukom was also among officials included on a list of alleged drug suspects released by Duterte in August.

Duterte won the May 9 election on a crime-fighting campaign, and has pledged to curb corruption and criminality within three to six months.

His campaign against illegal drugs has seen the killing of more than 4,400 suspects in less than five months, according to national police data and around 700,000 people have also surrendered.

Rights groups, the United Nations and the United States have expressed concern about reported extrajudicial killings taking place in the Philippines under the campaign.