2 brothers hurt in shooting incident
After a quite lengthy hiatus, the saga of the Espinosa clan picks up anew.
The chronicle of the warring family had its continuity after one member of the Jesus Espinosa, Sr. faction allegedly shot two brothers of the other family’s bloc early morning of yesterday at Zamora St., Brgy. Sta. Monica, City Proper, Iloilo City.
Luckily, victims Pascual “Toto E” Espinosa III, 59, of Pueblo, Mandurriao, Iloilo City and his younger brother, 49-year old Leo Espinosa of Zamora St., did not suffer fatal injuries.
Pascual sustained bullet injuries on his left arm, right foot, left leg, and left side of the chest while Leo suffered gunshot wound on his right leg.
They were rushed to Iloilo St. Paul’s Hospital.
Reports said that the victims and their siblings, together with the respective family, had a get-together party during Monday’s annual fiesta of Zamora St.
At around 2:30 a.m., while some of them had a drinking spree, Leo and Pascual went out of the house to pee.
The victims claimed that they then saw suspect Jesus Espinosa, Jr. alias “Jing-Jing” alighting from a black Ford Everest (FGJ-507) parked a few meters from the Espinosa ancestral home.
Jing-Jing is the son of the victims’ first cousin, Jesus Espinosa, Sr.
Leo described to Waterfront Detachment investigator PO2 Roger Peñaflorida that Jing-Jing was wearing a bullet-proof vest and carrying a handgun.
The suspect, together with an unidentified companion, then shot them.
It was theorized that the victims managed to return fire because the Ford Everest also incurred several bullet holes, including flat tires.
The suspects immediately fled on a nearby footwalk. They were not arrested during the police’s hot pursuit operation.
Recovered at the crime scene were 34 empty shells caliber .9mm pistol and 3 deformed slugs of unknown firearm.
The Fort Everest incurred damages on its windshield, left front tire, and left rear tire.
A parked Honda City (FDZ-962) was also hit by stray bullets on the lower part of the hood and left window.
Another vehicle, a white Mitsubishi Pajero (FFG-398), was also hit on its rear tire, back door, and right side bumper.
The red Mitsubishi Canter (ZSV-286) owned by Tanduay Distillery was not also spared as its right passenger door and upper portion of the windshield also sustained bullet holes.
Residents Nelly Espinosa, 48, of Zamora St., claimed that her dog house was also hit by stray bullets and so with Luz Paulino who claimed that a stray bullet destroyed her house’s door.
Ongoing feud
According to Leo, the suspects’ real target was their brother Brgy. Capt. Sergio Espinosa of Brgy. Legaspi, City Proper.
But he did not elaborate why.
The war between the two feuding Espinosa families could be traced back in the 1990s.
To put it kindly, they fought over territorial authority.
But bluntly, PNP Regional Director Chief Supt. Isagani Cuevas said that the feud started over who will take in control of the alleged illegal activities and economic operations in the Waterfront area.
The tension was temporarily eased up with the meddling of Espinosa patriarch Deting Espinosa but the latter died only recently.
The Espinosa family is known to be the owner of arrastre and stevedoring company ILIASCO.
Somehow, the company’s operation was affected with the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) taking over the port operation in the early 2000.
