Person of interest in Kerwin Espinosa shooting identified —PRO 8

A person of interest has been identified in the shooting of Albuera, Leyte mayoral candidate Kerwin Espinosa, according to the Police Regional Office 8 (PRO 8) on Friday.

“Mayroon na pong (We have a) person of interest, but we cannot give details pa po,” PRO 8 public information office chief Police Major Analiza Armeza told GMA News Online in a message.

Armeza said Espinosa as well as other wounded victims including vice mayoral bet Mariel Espinosa Marinay and a minor are now in stable condition.

Around 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Espinosa was at a campaign event waiting for his turn to speak when an unidentified man hiding in the ceiling of the stage shot him from behind using an undetermined firearm. He sustained a wound on the right shoulder.

The victims were brought to the hospital for treatment.

“All victims were immediately brought by his close-in security utilizing their private car to the nearest hospital for immediate medical attention," a police report said.

"Albuera Municipal Police Station together with the SWAT immediately conducted a hot pursuit operation, while roadblocks were already established,” it added.

A report in Balitanghali Friday showed that Espinosa has been discharged from the hospital.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) condemned the incident.

“Any act of violence should be condemned by anyone. The perpetrators must be unmasked and brought to justice immediately," Comelec chairman George Garcia said.

"Election is never about killing but is instead the giving of life to our democracy. Ballots not bullets is the answer to our problems,” he added.

Espinosa in late 2016 admitted before a Senate inquiry that he was involved in the illegal drug trade.

In 2018, he said in a counter-affidavit before state prosecutors that any statement he made before the Senate did not prove he was a drug lord if there was no evidence drug evidence.

The Baybay, Leyte court in June 2024 dismissed a drug case filed against him.

Espinosa is still facing charges of money laundering before a Pasay court and two cases for illegal possession of dangerous drugs and illegal possession of firearms, which the Court of Appeals earlier ordered reopened.—AOL, GMA Integrated News

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