Virgilio Lorenzo Jr

Gomez: 'Do not believe somebody like Kerwin Espinosa'

Article (news)

Sharon Evite

ABS-CBN News

<p><strong>(UPDATED)</strong> Leyte 4th District Representative Richard Gomez has brushed off the allegations made by Rolan &quot;Kerwin&quot; Espinosa after an assassination try on the Albuera mayoralty candidate and self-confessed drug lord left him wounded on Thursday in Barangay Tinag-an, Albuera town.</p><p>Espinosa&#x27;s sister Mariel Espinosa-Marinay, who is running for vice mayor, and another minor were also injured in the incident.</p><p>Gomez said Espinosa lacked credibility.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/4/10/kerwin-espinosa-wounded-in-shooting-incident-in-leyte-1832"><strong>Kerwin Espinosa wounded in Leyte shooting incident </strong></a></div><p>The congressman added that he is also looking to the circumstances surrounding the incident. Gomez did not provide additional details.</p><p>&quot;Do not believe somebody like him who has no credibility and a self-confessed drug lord. He will not do anything good for mankind,” said Gomez.</p><p>“Honestly, para sa akin scripted yung ambush me. Ang pangit ng acting, ang pangit ng pagkagawa.&quot;</p><p>According to police they have cordoned off a private resort that Espinosa said seven Ormoc police officers ran to after the assassination attempt.</p><p>But based on his own investigations, Gomez claimed there was no car chase or “hot pursuit” at the scene of the incident.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/4/12/ormoc-city-police-chief-relieved-from-post-amid-alleged-link-to-espinosa-shooting-0920"><strong>Ormoc City police chief relieved from post amid alleged link to Espinosa shooting</strong></a></div><p>Instead, it appears that Albuera Police Chief Major Angelo Sibunga went to a private beach property where the Ormoc City Police personnel were having a barbecue and eating dinner.</p><p>Gomez claimed Major Sibunga entered the said private area without a proper search or arrest warrant and was accompanied by approximately 40 armed men of Espinosa.</p><p>“The chief of police of Albuera entered the private beach house with around armed 40 pags (PAGS) of Kerwin without a warrant. He trespassed the property. Major Sibunga entered the property without any warrant of arrests,” said Gomez.</p><p>Police Col. Reydante Endonila Ariza has been relieved from his post as chief of the Ormoc City Police after his alleged involvement in the shooting of Espinosa, Police Col. Dionisio Apas Jr., Leyte Police provincial director, confirmed Saturday morning.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/4/11/comelec-no-need-to-raise-albuera-to-red-category-amid-espinosa-shooting-2314"><strong>Comelec: No need to raise Albuera to &#x27;red&#x27; category amid Espinosa shooting</strong></a></div><p>Police Col. Dennis Jose Llavore, the deputy regional director for operations, will take over as officer-in-charge of the city&#x27;s police office.</p><p>Apas Jr. said Ariza remains a person of interest in the shooting of Espinosa</p><p>Espinosa has claimed that Ariza is one of Gomez&#x27;s men.</p><p>&quot;’Yan si Ariza, city Director ng Ormoc at ang mayor ng Ormoc na si Lucy Torres at Congressman si Richard Gomez. Itong si Ariza, sa pagkakaalam ko, tauhan nila ito. Kung ano ang utos sa kanya ng mayor at congressman, gagawin niya,&quot; he alleged.</p><p>Espinosa, however, said that he is not directly accusing anyone of ordering the attempted murder.</p><p>&quot;Mahirap naman na mag-akusa tayo ng tao. Pero under ito sila ni Mayor Lucy Torres, Richard Gomez. Pero hindi ko sinasabi na sila ang nag-utos nito,&quot; he claimed.</p><p>“Yung pulis natin ay nakikipag-ugnayan na doon sa mga victims para kunin ang kanilang statement… ongoing po yung kino-conduct natin na result for firearms verifications, ballistic examinations, lahat ng kaukulang procedure na makapag-obtain kami ng appropriate pieces of evidence that would link him doon sa nangyaring pamamaril,&quot; said Apas.</p><p>Espinosa claimed that the shooting has something to do with his support for former Court of Appeals Associate Justice Vicente &quot;Ching&quot; Veloso III, Gomez&#x27;s political opponent in the Leyte 4th District congressional election.</p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/4/11/7-cops-persons-of-interest-in-kerwin-espinosa-shooting-pnp-says-1853"><strong>7 cops &#x27;persons of interest&#x27; in Kerwin Espinosa shooting, PNP says</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Rvj2OpehxF0??si=dKqY18vMIlOmIPeo&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Leyte 4th District Representative Richard Gomez has brushed off the allegations made by Rolan "Kerwin" Espinosa after an assassination try on the <i>Albuera mayoralty candidate and self-confessed drug lord left him </i>wounded on Thursday.</p>

Leyte 4th District Representative Richard Gomez has brushed off the allegations made by Rolan "Kerwin" Espinosa after an assassination try on the Albuera mayoralty candidate and self-confessed drug lord left him wounded on Thursday.