Kerwin Espinosa, binaril habang nangangampanya sa Leyte
- Former alleged drug lord and current Albuera mayoral aspirant Kerwin Espinosa was attacked by unidentified gunmen while campaigning in Barangay Tinag-an
- The 47-year-old candidate was once identified as the “biggest drug lord” in the region and testified against Leila de Lima before recanting his statement
- Kerwin Espinosa's father, a former Albuera mayor also accused of drug involvement, was killed in jail in 2016, adding a layer of complexity to the current incident
- Despite his past notoriety and dismissed drug charges, Espinosa is campaigning for mayor on a platform of eradicating illegal drug from Albuera
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Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa, a mayoral candidate for Albuera, Leyte, and a figure previously identified by authorities as a major player in the Eastern Visayas drug trade, was shot by unidentified assailants on Thursday afternoon.
Source: Youtube
The incident occurred at approximately 4:30 PM in Barangay Tinag-an while Espinosa was actively campaigning for the upcoming local elections.
According to reports from Carl Kevin Batistis, a candidate for Albuera councilor, Espinosa was in the midst of his campaign activities when the attack took place.
Initial accounts indicate that the circumstances surrounding the shooting are still under investigation, and the identities of the perpetrators remain unknown.
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Espinosa, 47, has a controversial past. During the Duterte administration's intensified crackdown on illegal drug, he was tagged as the “biggest drug lord” in the Eastern Visayas region and subsequently faced arrest.
His name gained further public attention when he testified against former Senator Leila de Lima in drug-related cases, a testimony he later retracted, claiming coercion.
Running under the banner of his local political party, Bando Espinosa-Pundok Kausaban, Espinosa’s mayoral candidacy marked a significant return to the political landscape of Albuera.
His father, Rolando Espinosa Sr., who also served as the mayor of Albuera, met a violent end in November 2016.
The elder Espinosa was fatally shot inside his jail cell in Baybay City, Leyte, under disputed circumstances, while detained on drug charges.
He was among the local officials publicly accused by then-President Duterte of involvement in the illegal drug trade.
Prior to his death, the former mayor had surrendered to the Philippine National Police, admitting to his and his son Kerwin's involvement in drug manufacturing and trading operations based in Albuera.
Kerwin Espinosa himself was apprehended in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, in October 2016 and subsequently deported to the Philippines.
He faced numerous charges related to his alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade. However, several of these high-profile drug cases filed against him in various Regional Trial Courts, including those in Makati, Manila, and Baybay City, Leyte, were eventually dismissed due to insufficient evidence.
Following his acquittals in these cases, Espinosa declared his intention to vie for the mayoral seat of Albuera.
His campaign platform centered on a commitment to eradicate illegal drug from his hometown, a pledge that carries significant weight given his past notoriety and the history of his family in the local political and alleged criminal landscape.
The shooting incident during his campaign has now added another layer of complexity and concern to the political climate in Albuera as the election period progresses.
Authorities are expected to conduct a thorough investigation into the attack to determine the motives and identify those responsible.
News, photos or videos that arouse the interest of netizens would often go viral on social media, due to the attention netizens give them. These viral posts appeal to the emotions of netizens, and in rare cases, such could also happen to ordinary people, making them very relatable.
Last year, the controversial mayoralty candidate of Albuera, Leyte, appeared before the Congressional “Quad Committee” to offer information about certain activities being investigated by the said body. In his testimony, the mayoralty candidate made some allegations about a known politician. He also offered information about another politician who was detained but later freed after charges were dropped by the court. The Congressoinal Quad Committee is comprised of four separate committees and is investigating various issues like POGO, drug, and extra judicial killings.
During that hearing, Kerwin broke down while giving a message for his late father. He appeared as a resource person at the Congressional Quad Committee, which investigates the proliferation of POGO, drug, and extra-judicial killings. At one point, Congresswoman Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro asked him what would he say if his father, the late Mayor Rolando Espinosa, is listening. Kerwin then broke down and amid tears, he gave his message for his Dad.
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Source: KAMI.com.gh
