It was not a peaceful Palm Sunday in Leyte’s 4th District after Albuera, Leyte mayoral candidate Kerwin Espinosa fired back at Leyte 4th District Rep. Richard Gomez for saying that the assassination attempt against Espinosa, a self-confessed drug lord, looked scripted.

Gomez, an actor and former nominee of the Mamamayan Ayaw sa Droga (MAD) party-list, cast doubt on the assassination attempt against Espinosa, saying the latter has no credibility.

"Do not believe somebody like him who has no credibility and a self-confessed drug lord. He will not do anything good for mankind,” he said.

“Honestly, para sa akin scripted yung ambush me. Ang pangit ng acting, ang pangit ng pagkagawa."

In response, Espinosa urged the congressman to be more introspective and humble during Holy Week.

"Hinay-hinay lang sa paghusga, Congressman. Holy Week ra ba karon. Pag-isipan mo ang iyong mga salita at gawa, dahil hindi gusto ng Panginoon ang kayabangan at pagmamataas. Pareho lang tayo, tao at may mga kasalanan. Ang tinitingnan ng Diyos ay ang kabutihan ng ating puso at kung paano natin tratuhin ang kapwa," Espinosa said in a statement.

The mayoral bet also accused Gomez of “having a record of abuse” while pointing out his own history of helping others.

"Sabi mo na wala akong magawang mabuti sa kapwa? Tingnan mo ang sarili mo sa salamin. Alam ng mga tao sa distrito natin kung sino sa ating dalawa ang may record na pang-aabuso, at kung sino sa ating dalawa ang mas nakikipagkapwa tao," he added.

READ: Boss K's Web: Espinosa names police protectors, drug sources

Espinosa, previously known as “Boss K” in the underground trade, was shot during a campaign sortie in Barangay Tinag-an in Albuera town Thursday. His sister, Mariel Espinosa-Marinay, who is running for vice mayor, and another minor were also wounded in the incident.

The Philippine National Police said 7 police officers are considered “persons of interest” in connection with the shooting.

They are currently in the custody of the Leyte Provincial Police Office for investigation.

Espinosa previously hinted that a politician was behind the shooting, noting that the assassination attempt came after he endorsed the candidacy of ex-Court of Appeals Associate Justice Vicente Veloso III, Gomez’s opponent in the congressional race. 

In his statement, Espinosa called out Police Regional Office 8 for allegedly shielding high-ranking officials from the standard inquest proceedings.

"I am very much concerned about the actuation of the Police Regional Office 8 in its failure to present the 7 Ormoc policemen to the Prosecutor’s Office for inquest proceedings, and the pronouncements of the Leyte Provincial Office saying that the persons of interest do not need to undergo inquest,” he said.

He said the PNP bypassed the Prosecutor's Office by not bringing the accused for inquest.

 "Ang Prosecutor’s Office ang nay katungod nga mo-deklarar kung naa bay probable cause, pero sa pagka-karon, daw ang PNP naman ang nidisider bahin niini pinaagi sa ilang pagbalibad nga dalhon sila sa piskal iya," said Espinosa. 

("The Prosecutor’s Office has the authority to determine whether there is probable cause, but as of now, it seems that the PNP has taken it upon themselves to decide by refusing to bring them to the prosecutor’s office.")

"Kung ordinaryong tawo pa to ang nadakpan, sigurado gi-inquest nana. Pero kay high-ranking ug protektado sa naglingkod nga mayor ug kongresman, gipakita nila ang ilang kusog kay hangtod karon, " said in the statement: 

("If it were an ordinary person who got arrested, they would’ve surely been inquested already. But because they are high-ranking and protected by the sitting mayor and congressman, they’re showing their power because up to now...")

Espinosa questioned why the investigation was taken away from the Albuera Police Station, which should have jurisdiction since the incident happened in Albuera. He said there is no recorded incident report regarding their apprehension in Albuera.