7 cops tagged as persons of interest in Espinosa attack
Confessed drug lord and now mayoral candidate of a Leyte town Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa. Roel T. Amazon, contributor.
MANILA, Philippines — Seven police officers were identified as persons of interest in the shooting of confessed drug lord and Albuera mayoral candidate Kerwin Espinosa, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.
In a press briefing at Camp Crame on Friday, PNP Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said a sports utility vehicle (SUV) was spotted at the event with a tarpaulin appearing to support Espinosa’s bid for mayor.
“But immediately after the shooting incident, the Montero hurriedly left the scene and it was chased after and it led them to go into a compound,” Fajardo said in Filipino.
“When our police conducting the investigation made a hot pursuit and entered the compound, that’s when they saw the police dressed entirely in civilian clothing.,” she added.
Fajardo said the cops were now under the custody of the Leyte Provincial Police Office pending investigation.
Ormoc City Police
She added that the police officers were assigned to the Ormoc City Police Office.
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Espinosa was shot at a campaign event on Thursday afternoon, according to a police report.
Fajardo detailed that Espinosa was shot in the right side of his chest. The bullet, she said, pierced through his body and hitting two more individuals behind him.
She further said that police are looking into whether it was a sniper that made the shot.
“In the area itself, no one approached him to shoot him),” Fajardo said.
Police Regional Office 8 public information chief Maj. Analiza Armeza told 黑料社 that Espinosa was already released from the hospital on Friday.
