2025 Elections
TACLOBAN CITY – Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho ‘Icot Petilla said that Roland “Kerwin” Espinosa, a confessed drug lord, has the right to run for public office, despite the controversy surrounding him.
Petilla made this statement when asked about Espinosa’s candidacy for mayor of Albuera town during an interview.
“They say he’s involved in illegal drugs, which he has denied, but it is his right to run, as everyone is entitled to,” Petilla said. “At the end of the day, this is an election, and it’s the people who will decide.”
Espinosa, 43, filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) on October 1, the first day of filing, declaring his intention to run for mayor.
His sister, Mariel, is his running mate.
Espinosa said that one of his key priorities, if elected, would be to rid Albuera of illegal drug activities.
He also revealed that his decision to run was fueled by a desire to seek justice for his father, former Albuera mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr.
The elder Espinosa, once named by former President Rodrigo Duterte as a narco-politician, was killed in a shootout inside his cell at the Baybay City sub-provincial jail on November 5, 2016, during a raid by members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.
Kerwin will face incumbent Mayor Sixto de la Victoria and board member Vincent Emnas, the brother-in-law of Leyte Rep. Richard Gomez, in the upcoming mayoral race.
Both de la Victoria and Emnas were present when Gov. Petilla submitted his own COC at the provincial office of the Commission on Elections in Tacloban City on October 8.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
