Espinosa back on campaign trail

ON THE STUMP AGAIN Albuera, Leyte, mayoral candidate Kerwin Espinosa meets with supporters on Saturday, two days after an attempt on his life. —Photo from Mariel Espinosa Marinay’s FB page

TACLOBAN CITY, LEYTE, Philippines — Confessed drug lord and mayoral candidate Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa of Albuera town, Leyte, resumed his campaign on Saturday, two days after surviving an assassination attempt.

However, instead of engaging with the public, Espinosa opted to meet with barangay leaders in an undisclosed location in Albuera.

An Espinosa aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told the Inquirer the candidate wants to prioritize his safety.

READ: 7 Ormoc cops in custody for attack on Espinosa

Espinosa was shot and wounded in the upper chest while waiting for his turn to address a campaign rally in Barangay Tinag-an on Thursday.

Also injured were his sister and running mate, Mariel Espinosa Marinay, and the daughter of one of their candidates for councilor.

The attack was the first reported election-related violence in Eastern Visayas ahead of the May 12 midterm polls.

Espinosa has condemned the attack, saying it was meant to derail his bid to become the next mayor of Albuera, a first-class municipality with over 47,000 residents across 16 barangays. He vowed not to back down despite the attempt on his life.

Custody of police questioned

Seven policemen whom Espinosa identified as “persons of interest” were arrested by the Albuera police on Thursday.

The officers—all assigned in Ormoc City—were apprehended at a private residence in Albuera shortly after the shooting incident. They are detained at the Leyte Police Provincial Office (LPPO) in Tacloban City.

Espinosa questioned the Philippine National Police for transferring the police officers to the provincial office instead of detaining them in Albuera.

“They were arrested in Albuera, so the local police should have jurisdiction over these persons of interest,” he said.

“That’s why, even now, I can’t help but think that a whitewash might happen,” he added.

Col. Dionisio Apas Jr., LPPO director, assured Espinosa of a fair and impartial investigation.

“We’ve received clear instructions from higher-ups to ensure the case we file is solid and well-prepared,” he said, referring to PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil and Brig. Gen. Jay Cumigad, police regional director. INQ