By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
MANILA – Seven cops placed under custody for possible involvement in the shooting of Albuera, Leyte mayoral candidate Kerwin Espinosa have tested negative in paraffin examination, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Tuesday.
PNP information chief Col. Randulf Tuaño, however, said the police officers would remain under investigation as the paraffin test results are not conclusive and may only serve as circumstantial evidence.
“Marami kasing pamamaraan na possible para hindi ka maga-gun powder residue. Halimbawa ang taong bumaril ay naka-gloves, naka-long sleeves. Kaya hindi po ibig sabihin na negative sila ay hindi na sila pumutok ng baril (There are many possible ways to avoid gun powder residue. For example, the person who made the shot was wearing gloves or long sleeves. So, it doesn’t mean that if they test negative, they did not fire the gun),” Tuaño said in a press conference at Camp Crame.
Espinosa was shot by an unidentified gunman during a campaign sortie in Barangay Tinag-an on April 10.
After roughly four hours, the seven police personnel, including the chief of Ormoc City Police, Col. Reydante Ariza, were arrested in a residential area where witnesses said the gunman fled after the shooting.
Tuaño said the nine firearms recovered in the possession of the police personnel are still undergoing ballistics examination.
Espinosa earlier implicated Leyte 4th District Rep. Richard Gomez and his wife, Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres, in his shooting.
Gomez had denied Espinosa’s allegation, saying the Albuera mayoral candidate has no credibility and is a confessed drug lord.
Tuaño said the PNP investigation on the shooting would only be based on evidence. (PNA)
