ALBUERA, Leyte, Philippines — After turning witness against his boss, the former driver-bodyguard of self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa was shot dead by unidentified men early yesterday.
Nelson Pepito Jr., a barangay councilor of Sitio Tinago Dos of this town, died from multiple gunshot wounds inflicted by two gunmen on a motorcycle.
Police said Pepito was selling chicken barbeque in front of his house in Barangay Benolho when the gunmen approached.One of them opened fire at the victim.
The victim’s wife Melodina told police her husband was able to scamper away but eventually fell dead from 12 gunshot wounds in the body.
Pepito worked as driver and bodyguard of Espinosa, whose father and namesake was killed by policemen in jail late last year.
The victim had turned witness against the younger Espinosa on the allegations of drug trade.
Pepito was also the suspect in the murder of a retired policeman who was the political enemy of Espinosa’s father.