Albuera mayoral candidate Kerwin Espinosa lashed out at Leyte 4th District Representative Richard Gomez after the congressman dismissed the recent ambush attempt on Espinosa as “scripted” and questioned his credibility as a former drug lord.
“Do not believe somebody like him who has no credibility and a self-confessed drug lord. He will not do anything good for mankind,” Gomez said, adding, “Honestly, para sa akin scripted yung ambush me. Ang pangit ng acting, ang pangit ng pagkagawa.”
In response, Espinosa issued a statement urging Gomez to reflect on his words during the Holy Week: “Hinay-hinay lang sa paghusga, Congressman. Holy Week ra ba karon. Pag-isipan mo ang iyong mga salita at gawa, dahil hindi gusto ng Panginoon ang kayabangan at pagmamataas.”
He also challenged Gomez’s record, accusing him of abuse: “Tingnan mo ang sarili mo sa salamin. Alam ng mga tao sa distrito natin kung sino sa ating dalawa ang may record na pang-aabuso.”
Espinosa, who was wounded in a shooting last Thursday during a campaign sortie in Barangay Tinag-an, claimed the attack may be politically motivated. His sister, vice mayoral bet Mariel Espinosa-Marinay, and a minor were also injured.
The Philippine National Police has identified seven Ormoc police officers as persons of interest. They are currently under the custody of the Leyte Provincial Police Office.
Espinosa alleged that Police Regional Office 8 failed to subject the officers to inquest, bypassing standard procedure. “Ang Prosecutor’s Office ang nay katungod nga mo-deklarar kung naa bay probable cause, pero sa pagka-karon, daw ang PNP naman ang nidisider bahin niini.”
He further criticized the transfer of the investigation from Albuera Police, questioning the lack of an incident report and the seeming protection extended to the officers involved. “Kung ordinaryong tawo pa to ang nadakpan, sigurado gi-inquest nana… Pero kay high-ranking ug protektado sa naglingkod nga mayor ug kongresman, gipakita nila ang ilang kusog.”
