Lucy Torres files DQ case vs Kerwin Espinosa

MANILA, Philippines — Ormoc Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez has filed a disqualification case against mayoral aspirant Kerwin Espinosa of Albuera, Leyte for alleged violation of the Omnibus Election Code.

Torres-Gomez filed the charges against Espinosa before the Commission on Elections  on Tuesday.

The case stemmed from a statement of Espinosa in a Facebook live video on April 30, wherein he reportedly challenged Torres-Gomez’s husband,  Rep. Richard Gomez, to a gun fight in the presence of members of the police and military who will serve as referees.

In the same video, Espinosa urged Gomez to use his most powerful firearm and suggested that they sign a waiver that no cases would be filed against them after the duel.

“I have worked so hard to make the fourth district of Leyte prosper during my term as congresswoman, espousing peace and order as the foundation upon which all other good things build up on, only for the lawless to threaten it by their words and actions,” Torres-Gomez said.

She said that aside from Espinosa, former congressman Ching Veloso and Mayor Bernie Tacoy of Matag-ob town also issued threats during campaign rallies.

Torres-Gomez said the acts of these three politicians violated Republic Act (RA) 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.

Section 4(a) of RA 11479 defines a terrorist act as one that “intends to cause death or serious bodily injury to any person, or endangers a person’s life.”

Torres-Gomez is expected to file today separate criminal cases for violation of the Anti-Terrorism Act against Espinosa, Tacoy and Veloso based on video footage publicly accessible on social media.

A disqualification case will also be filed against Veloso and Tacoy, she said.