Comelec condemns election violence vs mayoral bet Kerwin Espinosa
CAMPAIGN TRAIL Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa starts his campaign to become the next mayor of Albuera, Leyte, where his late father, Rolando Sr., also served as mayor. —ROEL T.AMAZON/CONTRIBUTOR
MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday condemned the shooting incident involving mayoral candidate Kerwin Espinosa.
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.
READ: Kerwin Espinosa shot at campaign event — PNP
According to Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia, the perpetrators must be revealed to face justice.
“Election is never about killing but is instead the giving of life to our democracy,” Garcia told reporters in a Viber message.
“Ballots not bullets is the answer to our problems,” Garcia added.
READ: Confessed drug lord wants to be mayor, fight drugs
The Philippine National Police on Thursday said that the Albuera municipal police began a hot pursuit operation on the incident.
Garcia previously said that the poll body heightened security alert upon anticipation that more election-related violence would occur once campaign period for local candidates for 2025 elections started.
