7 cops linked to Kerwin Espinosa shooting face gun charges
TACLOBAN CITY — The Leyte Police Provincial Office (LPPO) has filed cases against the seven police officers who were considered “persons of interest” in the shooting of confessed drug lord and mayoralty candidate Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa of Albuera town, Leyte on April 10.
Police Col. Dionisio Apas Jr., director of the LPPO, said they lodged a complaint for illegal possession of firearms and a violation of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban against the seven policemen before the Leyte Provincial Prosecutors Office on Monday afternoon.
Apas declined to identify the seven police officers pending further investigation but revealed their ranks: a police colonel, a lieutenant colonel, a staff sergeant, three corporals, and a patrolwoman.
In a press conference late Tuesday afternoon, Apas said eight of the 14 firearms voluntarily surrendered by the seven police officers to authorities were unregistered.
“Verification showed that several of the firearms, including a Mini Uzi and some of the rifles and pistols, were unregistered and lacked proper documentation, classifying them as loose firearms,” he said.
Apas said the seven police officers did not give a categorical answer as to why they were in possession of these unregistered firearms when they were supposedly on a mission to serve a warrant of arrest against a certain individual. The warrant was not intended for Espinosa.
Gunpowder residue
Apas said that based on the investigation by their forensic unit, the firearms had gunpowder residue.
But Police Lt. Col. Mae Mobago, chief of the forensic unit, clarified that while there were gunpowder residues found on the firearms, it did not mean that these could have been used in the shooting of Espinosa.
“These firearms could have been used earlier, (the) reason why gunpowder residues were discovered on the firearms,” she said.
Paraffin tests conducted on the seven policemen showed no traces of gunpowder on their hands.
Apas stressed that the complaints lodged against the respondents were just “initial” cases, as investigators continue to pursue leads for the possible filing of frustrated murder complaints against the seven police officers.
“We want to make sure that once we file (a frustrated murder case), it will be airtight and solid,” he said.
The seven police officers are currently under administrative and restrictive custody at the regional police headquarters in Palo town, Leyte.
No slug
Apas said investigators had yet to determine the type of firearm used in the shooting of Espinosa as no slug was recovered from the crime scene.
“Perhaps, someone picked it (slug) up,” he said.
A slug is considered a crucial evidence in determining the kind of firearm used in a shooting incident.
Apas said the gunman could have mingled with the crowd during the attack. “The gunman could have been about 80 meters away from Espinosa,” he said.
Asked whether any of the seven police officers identified as persons of interest had the ability to shoot accurately from that distance, Apas said none of them were certified snipers.
First for East Visayas
Espinosa, 47, who is running for mayor of Albuera under the “Bando Espinosa, Pundok Kausaban” (Team Espinosa Reform Group), was shot and wounded on the chest while waiting for his turn to address the crowd during a campaign sortie inside the covered court of Barangay Tinag-an on April 10.
Also injured were his sister and running mate, Mariel Espinosa Marinay, and a daughter of one of their candidates for councilor.
The attack was the first reported election-related violence in Eastern Visayas ahead of the May 12 elections.
Espinosa, who survived the attack, condemned what happened, saying it was meant to derail his bid to become the next mayor of Albuera, a first-class municipality with over 47,000 residents in 16 barangays.
He vowed not to back down from his mayoral bid despite the attempt on his life, saying he is committed to serving the people of Albuera.
In a live broadcast on Facebook on Wednesday, Espinosa challenged those who continue to accuse him of using illegal drugs to take a drug test with him.
“Let’s do the drug test, and those who test positive should be immediately arrested by the police,” he added.
He stressed he was already a changed man and has turned away from his former way of life.
Espinosa has vowed to rid Albuera of illegal drugs if elected mayor in the May 12 elections. He is running against incumbent Mayor Sixto de la Victoria and Leyte Board Member Vincent Rama.
