2 weeks ago
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ORMOC CITY, Leyte – A gunman shot and wounded self-confessed drug lord and Albuera mayoral candidate Rolan "Kerwin" Espinosa during a campaign event inside a gymnasium in Barangay Tinag-an around 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 10, 2025.
Councilor candidate Carl Kevin Batistis, who is running under the Bando Espinosa-Pundok Kausaban (BE-PK) party, announced the incident on Facebook.
The Albuera Municipal Police Station confirmed the report Thursday evening.
Police said the assailant hid in the ceiling above the stage and opened fire while Espinosa sat on a plastic chair, waiting to deliver his speech.
The gunman shot him from behind using an unidentified firearm.
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The attack also wounded Espinosa's sister, Mariel Espinosa Marinay, who is running for vice mayor, and a minor from Barangay Tabgas.
Espinosa's close-in security rushed the three victims to the nearest hospital in a private vehicle.
Police have not yet released details about their conditions.
The Albuera police and the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team launched a hot pursuit operation to capture the suspect. Investigators have yet to determine the motive behind the shooting.
PSSg. Benjie C. Bug-atan, officer-in-charge of the Albuera Municipal Police Station, filed the incident report.
Espinosa is the son of the late Rolando Espinosa, former Albuera mayor, whom police killed during a jail raid in November 2016.
Former president Rodrigo Duterte had named the elder Espinosa among the country's narco-politicians during his administration.
