MANILA – Kerwin Espinosa, a candidate for mayor in Albuera, Leyte, refuted claims that the ambush he experienced during a campaign event on Thursday afternoon was orchestrated.
In a media interview over the weekend, Espinosa emphasized that it would be implausible for the ambush to have been self-inflicted, given that the gunshot wounds were located on his chest and left arm.
“Sino naman ang mag-script na dito sa dibdib ko ang tama at double action pa ang bala. Nakita niyo naman na malaking butas ang aking braso. Bakit naman scripted?” Espinosa said.
Espinosa expressed his concerns for his safety following the identification of seven policemen from Ormoc, Leyte by the Philippine National Police as persons of interest in the shooting incident that also left his sister and a minor injured.
“Dahil sa rason ng seguridad ko, kasi ang involved na mga person of interest…nawalan ako ng tiwala sa mga kapulisan sa Ormoc maliban sa mga matino,” Espinosa said.
Espinosa has also asked Ormoc’s Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez and her husband, Ormoc’s Cong. Richard Gomez, to look into the shooting incident.
“Sila ay naka-assign sa Ormoc City. Isang malaking tanghaga na may taong nag-uutos sa kanila na mataas na politician din,” Espinosa said.
“Ang ano ko ay sana mabigyan ‘to ng pansin ni Mayor Lucy kasi siya ngayon ang alkalde ng Ormoc City, kung bakit napunta ang mga pulis mo sa aming lugar, sa Albuera. Lalong-lalo ka na, Congressman Richard Gomez, sana mabigyan mo ito ng pansin na parang hindi tama. Wala akong binibintangan kung sino,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Leyte Police Provincial Office stated that they are also conducting its investigation into the incident.
“Ang buong pwersa ng Leyte Police Provincial Office ay patuloy na nagko-conduct ng in-depth investigation para mahuli na po ang gumawa nito. Kapag ang biktima po ay isang kandidato o supporter, it is classified as suspected election-related incident,” said Police Lieutenant Mary Antonette Espino said./PN
