Seven police officers linked to the recent shooting of Albuera, Leyte mayoral candidate Kerwin Espinosa are now facing charges for carrying loose firearms in violation of the election gun ban, authorities confirmed Tuesday.
Leyte police provincial director Col. Dionisio Apas said the officers surrendered 14 firearms, but only five were officially issued by the Philippine National Police. One firearm was traced to a civilian, while the remaining eight were considered loose or unregistered.
“Based on these findings, complaints have been filed against seven individuals for violations of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act and the election gun ban,” Apas said during a press briefing.
The surrendered firearms included six 5.56 caliber rifles, two .45 caliber pistols, one Mini Uzi submachine gun, and five 9mm pistols. Of these, five rifles, two pistols, and the submachine gun were determined to be loose firearms after checks with the Regional Civil Security Unit.
Forensic tests confirmed that all firearms were functional and had gunpowder residue. However, paraffin tests on the officers showed no traces of gunpowder on their hands or clothing.
The officers—comprising a police colonel, lieutenant colonel, staff sergeant, three corporals, and a patrolwoman—were arrested shortly after the shooting incident on April 10 in Tinag-an village, Albuera. Eyewitnesses reported that the shooter fled to a nearby residential area where the officers, dressed in civilian attire, were later found.
The suspects are currently in the custody of the Eastern Visayas police regional office in Palo, Leyte.
Initial police investigations revealed that the officers were allegedly in the area for a meeting related to serving a warrant of arrest in a neighboring village. However, authorities are continuing their probe into the attempted murder case, exploring various motives and verifying the alignment of evidence with the suspects’ profiles.
The incident has drawn political attention as Espinosa, a self-confessed drug personality and former inmate, is challenging incumbent Mayor Sixto Dela Victoria and Vince Rama in the mayoral race. Rama is the brother-in-law of Ormoc Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez, wife of Leyte 4th District Representative Richard Gomez.
Espinosa has declared support for Vicente Veloso III, a former Court of Appeals Associate Justice and rival of Rep. Gomez in the congressional race. His supporters have raised concerns that the shooting may be politically motivated.