Mayoral candidate in Albuera, Leyte and former drug personality Kerwin Espinosa was ambushed while campaigning on Thursday, April 10. According to him, he had received death threats before the incident.
While resting at a hospital in Ormoc City, Espinosa said someone told one of his campaign staff that “he won’t make it to the elections and might as well just rest.” The shooting took place inside the gymnasium of Barangay Tinag-an, where his group was holding a campaign rally.
He was hit in the right side of the chest and the bullet penetrated his right arm. According to police, the gunman was about 50 meters away from the stage. The type of gun used has not yet been determined. Aside from Espinosa, his sister Marielle "RR" Espinosa-Marinay was also hit in the ear, while a minor was hit in the shoulder.
Espinosa insisted that the incident was not scripted and called it "politically motivated." According to him, there was a "big politician" behind the assassination attempt. He added that the gunmen were police officers, not ordinary people, and that a "budget" was allegedly allocated for the ambush.
The Leyte Police Provincial Office (LPPO) confirmed that Espinosa was indeed the target of the shooting. A hot pursuit operation is ongoing to catch the suspects. According to Police Colonel Dionisio Apas Jr., the police will do everything to maintain peace during this election.
