Comelec chief to PNP: Resolve Kerwin Espinosa shooting

CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa, who is seeking the post of mayor of Albuera, Leyte, waves to supporters during a campaign sortie. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday called on the Philippine National Police to resolve the shooting of Espinosa. — Photo by Roel T. Amazon/Contributor

MANILA, Philippines — Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia on Friday called on the Philippine National Police to resolve the shooting of mayoral candidate Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa.

According to Garcia, violence made against any candidate, regardless of the positions they are running for in the elections, should be condemned.

Garcia reiterated that if a candidate was harmed or killed, the Comelec would conclude that the violence was election-related.

READ: Comelec condemns election violence vs mayoral bet Kerwin Espinosa

“Bagamat siya ay sugatan pa lamang pero yan pa rin po ay violence and therefore tayo ay nananawagan sa Philippine National Police para maipakita natin ang hustisya, kinakailangang may maaresto kaagad,” Garcia told reporters in an ambush interview.

(While he was only wounded, it is already considered violence, and therefore, we are calling on the Philippine National Police to show justice; the suspect must be arrested immediately.)

“Kailangang may napapanagot tayo dito, sapagkat para hindi na natatakot ang ating kababayan, lalo na yung mga botanteng boboto sa darating na halalan,” Garcia added.

(Someone has to pay for this because our constituents, especially the voters, should not be scared.)

Garcia also said that safety should be ensured in elections, emphasizing that candidates should resort to “ballots and not bullets.”

Espinosa, once tagged by the police as the biggest drug lord in Eastern Visayas, was shot at a campaign event in a gymnasium in Barangay Tinag-an in Albuera, Leyte on Thursday afternoon.

The Leyte Police Provincial Office (LPPO) in a statement on Friday said that the “shooting, which took place during a campaign rally, has been classified as a Suspected Election-Related Incident (S-ERI).”

The LPPO added that a hot pursuit operation was launched to identify the suspect.

READ: Confessed drug lord shot, wounded on campaign trail

When asked if Albuera town would be elevated to a red category for areas with election concerns, Garcia answered in the negative. Areas classified under this category have experienced serious threats and history of election-related violence.