THE seven Ormoc City police personnel who were placed under custody over the shooting of self-confessed drug lord and Albuera, Leyte mayoral candidate Roland “Kerwin” Espinosa have tested negative in paraffin testing.
The paraffin test is used to detect gunshot residue on a person’s hands.
In a press conference, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief of the Public Information Office (PIO) Colonel Randulf Tuaño said the result of the examination is not conclusive.
“Hindi siya conclusive kung sila man ay mag-positive or negative. Pero pwede siya pumasok na circumstantial evidence,” he said.
(It’s not conclusive whether they will test positive or negative, but it can be considered as circumstantial evidence.)
“Marami po kasing pamamaraan na possible po para hindi ka maga-gun powder residue, halimbawa po ang taong bumaril ay naka-gloves, naka-long sleeves. Kaya hindi po ibig sabihin na negative sila ay hindi na sila pumutok ng baril,” he added.
(There are many possible ways for someone to avoid testing positive for gunpowder residue -- for example, if the shooter was wearing gloves or long sleeves. So a negative result doesn't necessarily mean they didn’t fire a gun.)
Espinosa was shot by an unidentified gunman during a campaign activity in Barangay Tinag-an on Thursday, April 10, 2025.
Roughly after four hours, seven policemen, including the chief of Ormoc City Police Colonel Reydante Ariza, were arrested in a residential area where witnesses said the gunman went to following the shooting.
Tuaño said the firearms recovered in the possession of the police personnel were still undergoing ballistics examination.
He said this includes nine firearms with serial number with no records found and one with defaced serial number.
Ballistic tests will determine if the firearm was used recently.
Tuaño said a splinter bullet was used during Espinosa’s shooting, which means it exploded after being triggered.
Charges for the violation of Republic Act 10591, or the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition, were filed against the seven policemen who remain under restrictive custody of the Police Regional Office.
“In relation to the shooting, wala pa po tayong kaso na naifa-file sa kanila,” said Tuaño.
(In relation to the shooting, no case has been filed against them yet.)
He said the policemen claimed that they were in the area, which is around 15 to 20 minutes-drive from their area of assignment, to “rest.”
Tuaño said they are looking into all possibilities, including the claims that the ambush was staged.
“Sa ngayon, wala kaming nakikitang (anggulo ng) ambush me,” he said.
(As of now, we don’t see any indication of an “ambush me” angle.)
Espinosa earlier seemed to have implicated Leyte Fourth District Representative Richard Gomez and his wife, Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres, in his shooting.
In response, Gomez said there were “many flaws” to Espinosa’s story, hinting that the incident was scripted.
“Do not believe somebody like him who has no credibility and a self-confessed drug lord. He will not do anything good for mankind,” Gomez said.
“Honestly, para sa akin scripted ‘yung ambush me. Ang pangit ng acting, ang pangit ng pagkagawa,” he added.
(Honestly, for me, the "ambush me" was scripted. The acting was bad, and the execution was poorly done.)
Espinosa’s sister, Mariel Espinosa-Marinay, who is running for vice mayor, and another minor were also injured due to the incident. (TPM/SunStar Philippines)