Kerwin Espinosa — an alleged drug lord and candidate for mayor of Albuera, Leyte — was shot by unidentified assailants Thursday afternoon, according to a political ally.

Carl Kevin Batistis, a candidate for Albuera councilor, said the shooting occurred around 4:30 p.m. while Espinosa was campaigning in Barangay Tinag-an.

Espinosa had previously been identified as the “biggest drug lord” in Eastern Visayas and was arrested during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

He later recanted his testimony against former Senator Leila de Lima in drug-related cases.

Espinosa is running for mayor under his local party, Bando Espinosa-Pundok Kausaban.

His father, Rolando Espinosa Sr., a former mayor of Albuera who was also accused of involvement in the illegal drug trade, was killed in 2016 while in police custody.

To recall, the younger Espinosa was arrested in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, in October 2016 and deported to the Philippines the following month and faced drug charges in court, but these cases were later dismissed due to insufficient evidence.

Following his acquittal, Espinosa announced his candidacy for mayor of Albuera, vowing to rid the town of illegal drugs.