Attempt will not stop him from running
TACLOBAN CITY – Mayoralty candidate Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa believes that the attempt on his life was politically motivated, claiming it was likely due to his strong campaign stance against illegal drugs in Albuera, Leyte, a town once tagged as the drug capital of Eastern Visayas.
Espinosa, a self-confessed drug lord, said the shooting could have been carried out by individuals threatened by his vow to eradicate illegal drugs should he be elected mayor.
“You stepped on the toes of someone protecting their business. I’m not even sitting as mayor yet. You just failed to kill me. They even used a sniper—what cowards these people are,” he said in a Facebook livestream from his hospital bed just past midnight on Friday.
Espinosa is now out of danger after being hit by a bullet on his upper right chest while campaigning in Barangay Tinag-an, Albuera, on Thursday, April 10, at around 4:30 p.m. The bullet exited through the back of his upper right arm, according to a report from the Leyte Police Provincial Office.
He was discharged from a private hospital in Ormoc City on Friday morning and is now recuperating at home in Albuera.
In his video message, Espinosa claimed that the gunman and the vehicle allegedly used in the shooting were already in police custody. “The suspect was arrested right in Barangay Tinag-an, and the vehicle he used was found parked in one of the houses there,” he said, without providing further details.
However, Police Major Ana Armesa, spokesperson of the regional Philippine National Police, contradicted Espinosa’s claim, saying a manhunt operation is still ongoing. “As of now, our personnel are still conducting pursuit operations to identify and arrest the suspect, as well as recover the firearm used,” she said in a radio interview over DyVL in Tacloban City.
She said authorities are not discounting political motives behind the incident and have already identified a person of interest but declined to reveal more pending further investigation.
Espinosa was shot behind the stage of the covered court in Brgy. Tinag-an while he and his slate, “Bando Espinosa, Pundok Kausaban” (Espinosa Team, Reform Group), were holding a campaign rally around six kilometers from the town center.
His younger sister and running mate, Mariel Espinosa Marinay, suffered a graze wound on her left ear, while a minor—daughter of one of their councilor candidates—also sustained a graze wound on her left shoulder.
Despite the attempt on his life, Espinosa said he will not back down from his political bid and that divine intervention saved him. “My life is dedicated to sincere public service for all of you,” he said in Cebuano. “God is good all the time. He didn’t allow me to die. I was sent by the Almighty to return to Albuera to continue the plans of my father and serve the people sincerely.”
He also dismissed speculation that the shooting was staged: “Scripted? The bullet almost hit my heart,” he said.
Espinosa’s father, former Mayor Rolando Espinosa, was killed inside his jail cell at the Baybay sub-provincial jail on November 5, 2016, during what authorities then claimed was a shootout with operatives from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.
Both father and son were previously tagged by former president Rodrigo Duterte during the height of his campaign against illegal drugs.
Espinosa is running against incumbent Mayor Sixto de la Victoria and Leyte Board Member Vincent Rama. He vowed to continue his campaign despite the attack.
His sister, Mariel, echoed his determination: “We’re not perfect, but our only desire is to serve with integrity. Even though we almost died, that won’t stop us. We will continue—for the town of Albuera, for truth, and for the people who believe in us. We will not retreat,” she posted on Facebook.
Col. Dionisio Apas, Jr., director of the Leyte Police Provincial Office, described the shooting as a “suspected election-related incident.”
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) condemned the incident, calling for swift action to ensure peaceful and orderly elections on May 12.
Comelec-8 legal officer Atty. Ma. Krishna Athena Elardo said a meeting with police and military officials has been set for April 15 to address election-related security concerns, including the attack on Espinosa.
“We condemn the shooting incident involving mayoralty candidate Kerwin Espinosa as we are promoting peaceful and orderly elections in the region,” she said.
Albuera has been placed under the “yellow” category by Comelec, meaning it is an area of concern due to previous election-related incidents and the possible presence of private or partisan armed groups.
JOEY A. GABIETA, LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA, ROEL T. AMAZONA
