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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Luzon devider Kerwin escorts seen with guns during campaign sortie

Kerwin escorts seen with guns during campaign sortie

Published Apr 22, 2025 01:42 pm

CEBU CITY – Are the civilians belonging to the team of self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa allowed to carry firearms?

KERWIN GUNS.jpeg

A SCREENSHOT of a video footage showing some members of Kerwin Espinosa’s team carrying firearms when the self-confessed drug lord was shot during a campaign sortie in Albuera, Leyte on April 10.

This question was raised after photos of armed men who were believed to be part of Espinosa’s team went viral on social media.

The photos were screenshots of a video footage when Espinosa was shot while holding a campaign rally in a covered court in  Barangay Tinag-an, Albuera, Leyte on April 10.

The footage showed four of the armed men wearing T-shirts of Espinosa's political party, Bando Espinosa Pundok Kauswagan (BEPK), while one armed person appeared to be wearing a military outfit. It was not clear if the military uniform was legitimate.

It was also unclear if Albuera police chief Police Major Angelo Sibunga was present in the immediate aftermath of the shooting incident. 

The screenshots were posted on a Facebook page called Maskara, where netizens asked why there were armed civilians in the venue. Some also raised the current gun ban.

“During Election Period, no person shall bear, carry or transport firearms or other deadly weapons in public places, including any building, street, park, private vehicle or public conveyance, even if licensed possess or carry the same, unless authorized in writing by the Commission...," Commission on Elections Resolution No. 11067 said.

According to reports, the armed men have not been questioned nor subjected to undergo a paraffin test to determine if any of them had fired any of the guns shown in the CCTV footage. 

Anonymous eyewitnesses also saw Sibunga along with persons wearing BEPK T-shirts questioning Ormoc City police officers who were in a private beach at least 100 meters from the covered court of Barangay Tinag-an.

The seven Ormoc police officers have  been tagged persons of interest and remain in the custody of Leyte Police Provincial Office (LPPO). 

All seven policemen have tested negative in a paraffin test, conducted by the Philippine National Police, according to PNP public information chief Col. Randulf Tuaño, in a press briefing at Camp Crame, Quezon City.

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Leyte Kerwin Espinosa Albuera
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