Despite the recent shooting of mayoralty candidate Kerwin Espinosa in Albuera, Leyte, the province remains generally peaceful, the Philippine National Police (PNP) assured the public.
Col. Dionisio Apas, Jr., Leyte police provincial director, confirmed that based on the Commission on Elections (Comelec) assessment, Albuera will not be placed under the red category, which is reserved for areas of grave concern during elections.
“The office remains steadfast in uncovering the truth, ensuring justice, and preserving peace and order,” Apas stated in a press briefing on Tuesday.
The police official further noted a significant decline in shooting incidents in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the previous year. “Last year, we recorded 25 shooting incidents in the first quarter. However, this year, we’ve only recorded 12, a 52% decrease, which is a good indicator,” Apas said, emphasizing the overall peaceful environment in the province.
Regarding the shooting incident involving Espinosa, Apas stressed that it was an isolated case and that the investigation is being handled thoroughly. “Albuera is still peaceful. You will notice that Espinosa and other candidates have been campaigning after the shooting incident,” he added.
Espinosa was injured in a shooting attack during a campaign sortie in Tinag-an village on April 10. Authorities quickly arrested seven police officers in civilian attire in a residential area near the scene, where witnesses reported seeing the shooter flee. The officers face charges for violating the election gun ban after being found with firearms, including loose firearms.
Espinosa, who is running against Vince Rama and incumbent Mayor Sixto Dela Victoria, is expected to continue his campaign despite the unfortunate incident. The PNP reassured the public that there is no cause for alarm and that they are working to maintain peace throughout the election period.
