Espinosa to Gomez: I am not an actor like you

Kerwin Espinosa, mayoral candidate for Albuera, Leyte, on Sunday hit back at comments made by Leyte Representative Richard Gomez, who earlier claimed that the recent shooting incident involving Espinosa was staged.

“Hindi naman ‘to acting. Hindi naman ako tulad sa kanya na artista eh,” Espinosa said in Ian Cruz's report on GMA's “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday.

(This isn’t acting. I’m not an actor like him.)

Espinosa questioned the alleged presence of Ormoc police officers at the scene of the incident.

“Bakit nandoon ang mga kapulisan niya? City director pa ang nandoon at mga intel. Sagutin mo ‘yun, Richard Gomez, bakit nandoon? Inutusan mo ba?” Espinosa asked.

(Why were his police officers there? Even the city director and intelligence personnel were present. Answer that, Richard Gomez. Why were they there? Did you order them?)

His remarks came in response to Gomez’s earlier statement suggesting that the ambush was self-orchestrated.

“Honestly, para sa akin scripted ‘yung ambush me. Ang pangit ng acting, ang pangit ng pagkagawa,” Gomez said.

(Honestly, for me, that "ambush me" incident was scripted. The acting and execution were terrible.)

While Gomez has yet to comment on Espinosa’s latest accusations, he previously stated that he was still gathering facts and constructing the timeline of events.

Espinosa maintains the attack was politically motivated. He is running against Leyte Board Member Vince Rama, who Espinosa said was married to Karen Torres—sister of Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez, Richard Gomez’s wife.

Espinosa, a confessed former drug lord, was shot in the right shoulder by an unidentified gunman around 4:30 p.m. during a campaign event last Thursday. He was waiting for his turn to speak when the incident occurred.

Seven members of the Ormoc Police have been identified as persons of interest in the shooting. The results of ballistic and paraffin tests are expected to be released on Monday, April 13.

“Technically, they were not at the crime scene, and there is currently no direct evidence or testimony identifying who among them may have been involved,” said Police Colonel Dionisio DC Apas Jr., director of the Leyte Provincial Police Office.

Police Colonel Reydante Ariza, chief of the Ormoc City Police, has since been relieved of his post amid the ongoing investigation.

“Ang Leyte Police Provincial Office, it is committed to a thorough, evidence-based, and impartial investigation based on established policies,” said Police Lieutenant Mary Antonette Espina, spokesperson for the Leyte PPO. — Jon Viktor Cabuenas/DVM, GMA Integrated News

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