Jamaine Punzalan

Kerwin Espinosa, who has been linked to the illegal drug trade, attends a House Quad-Committee hearing on the Duterte administration’s war on drugs, Oct. 11, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File

Article (news)

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/174433774639520241011-espinosa-kerwin-quadcomm-MT-5.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Kerwin Espinosa, who has been linked to the illegal drug trade, attends a House Quad-Committee hearing on the Duterte administration’s war on drugs, Oct. 11, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — Mayoral candidate and alleged former drug lord Kerwin Espinosa said Friday he would not cower in fear after he was injured in a shooting incident while campaigning. </p><p>The attack happened on Thursday while Espinosa was waiting for his turn to speak at a campaign rally in Albuera, Leyte. Photos on social media showed Espinosa bleeding from a wound near his right shoulder after the shooting.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/4/10/kerwin-espinosa-wounded-in-shooting-incident-in-leyte-1832">Kerwin Espinosa wounded in Leyte shooting incident</a></div><p>“We will continue with our goals. We will not cower in fear,” Espinosa said in Bisaya during a Facebook livestream from what appeared to be his hospital bed.</p><p>(Padayon gihapon kita sa atuangong og tinguha. Dili kita magpadala sa kahadlok, nahitabo kini kanako ka tungod.)</p><p>“This happened because they do not want me to serve as mayor of Albuera because their businesses would be affected,” he added without naming anyone.</p><p>(Dili sila gusto nga akoy molingkod isip mayor sa Albuera kay maapektahan man gyud ang ilang mga negosyo.)</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>Initial police reports said the unidentified gunman hid in the ceiling of the stage and shot Espinosa from behind.</p><p>His sister, vice mayoral candidate Mariel Espinosa Marinay, and a minor were also wounded in the incident.</p><p>Police set up checkpoints and launched a hot pursuit operation after the shooting.</p><p>But no suspect has been identified as of posting.  </p><p>The previous administration had accused Espinosa of controlling the narcotics trade in Albuera.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/03/12/18/lalaking-umanoy-tauhan-ni-kerwin-espinosa-patay-nang-manlaban">Lalaking umano&#x27;y tauhan ni Kerwin Espinosa, patay nang &#x27;manlaban&#x27;</a></div><p>In 2016, his father Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa was shot dead inside his jail cell after allegedly firing at officers during a search for illegal firearms.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong></strong><strong>OTHER STORIES:</strong><strong></strong><br/><strong></strong><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/video/news/09/04/23/espinosa-acquitted-of-illegal-possession-of-firearms">Kerwin Espinosa acquitted of illegal possession of firearms</a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/10/11/-initial-kerwin-espinosa-claims-dela-rosa-coerced-him-to-implicate-de-lima-in-drug-trade-1428">Kerwin Espinosa claims Dela Rosa coerced him to implicate De Lima in drug trade</a> <strong></strong></div><div><iframe width="853" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ad7sJHexsJM" title="Kerwin Espinosa binaril sa gitna ng pangangampanya | TV Patrol" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Mayoral candidate and alleged former drug lord Kerwin Espinosa said Friday he would not cower in fear after he was injured in a shooting incident while campaigning.</p>

Mayoral candidate and alleged former drug lord Kerwin Espinosa said Friday he would not cower in fear after he was injured in a shooting incident while campaigning.

Kerwin Espinosa says won’t be cowed by shooting incident

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Kerwin Espinosa says won’t be cowed by shooting incident

Jamaine Punzalan

Published April 11, 2025 10:24 AM PHT

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Updated April 11, 2025 11:04 AM PHT

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