For pressuring him to namedrop on drug list

ALBUERA, Leyte– Mayoral candidate Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa of this town has urged his supporters not to vote for reelectionist Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, accusing the senator of coercing him into fabricating stories during his testimony before a Senate inquiry on illegal drugs in 2016.

Espinosa claimed that Police Lt. Col. Juvie Espenido acted as the intermediary, pressuring him into making false accusations.

During a press conference held on Saturday, October 5, Espinosa recounted the difficult situation he faced when his father, former Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr., was killed inside his jail cell under suspicious circumstances.

According to Espinosa, his father was unarmed and defenseless when he was shot by police officers who falsely claimed he fought back.

The death of his father, Espinosa emphasized, left him with little choice but to comply with the demands of authorities out of fear for the safety of his remaining family members.

“They had already killed my father. I feared the same fate would befall my family if I didn’t do what they asked. If they wanted me to admit to anything, even if it were the killing of Jose Rizal, I would have done it out of fear,” Espinosa said, expressing the immense pressure he was under.

Espinosa also firmly denied any involvement in drug syndicates, contradicting his earlier claims made during the Senate investigation.

He insisted that he was never the “drug lord of Eastern Visayas,” a label he says was forced upon him by Senator dela Rosa.

In his apology to former senator Leila de Lima, who has been imprisoned on drug-related charges following his testimony, Espinosa admitted that his accusations were false and made under duress.

He expressed remorse for the consequences his false testimony had on De Lima’s life and called on his supporters to reject dela Rosa in the upcoming elections.

“I am appealing to all of my supporters not to vote for Bato. He pressured me into lying, and innocent people like my father and Senator de Lima suffered because of it,” Espinosa declared.

When asked about his preferred candidate for the position of 4th District representative of Leyte, Espinosa remained vague.

He stated that he would only support local candidates from Leyte, but did not elaborate further.

The two main contenders for the post are incumbent Rep. Richard Gomez and former 3rd district congressman Vicente Veloso.

Espinosa’s candidacy for mayor of Albuera, along with his outspoken stance against Sen. dela Rosa, has drawn significant attention, especially given his past admissions and involvement in the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.

Now running as a reformed figure, Espinosa seeks to shed his former image and win the trust of voters, positioning himself as an advocate for justice and accountability.
(ROBERT DEJON)

Led by Speaker Martin Romualdez

TACLOBAN CITY – All five representatives from Leyte’s congressional districts have officially filed their certificates of candidacy (CoCs), signaling their intent to seek re-election in the upcoming May 12, 2025 polls.

The filing period, which ran from October 1 to October 8, was set by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), and the race is shaping up to be both competitive and familiar, with several incumbents facing challengers while others remain unopposed.

1st District: Speaker Martin Romualdez

House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, representing Leyte’s 1st district, is running for his third term. He was the first candidate to file his CoC at the Leyte provincial Comelec office, demonstrating his intention to continue his leadership role in the district.
Romualdez, a key ally of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., his cousin, has been instrumental in securing national-level projects for Leyte and has enjoyed widespread support across the province.

However, Romualdez will not go unchallenged.

Two other candidates—Raymundo Junia and Danilo Chua—filed their CoCs on October 4, setting the stage for a three-way race in the district. Both Junia and Chua are relatively lesser-known figures compared to Romualdez.

2nd District: Lolita Karen Javier

In the 2nd district, incumbent Rep.Lolita Karen Javier is seeking her third and final term. As of October 7, no one has filed to challenge her, making her bid for re-election seem secure, at least for now.

Javier, who is also the wife of Leyte Vice Governor Leonardo Javier, has built a strong political base in the district, with her advocacy focused on education, health, and infrastructure development.

3rd District: Anna Veloso Tuazon vs. Emmanuel Veloso

The race in Leyte’s 3rd district presents an interesting family dynamic.

Incumbent Rep. Anna Veloso Tuazon filed her CoC on Oct. 4, seeking a second term. However, her bid for re-election will face a challenge from within the family. Emmanuel Veloso, a relative and former political figure in the district, filed his CoC on October 3, just a day before Tuazon.

The race between the two could lead to an intriguing contest, with both candidates likely to draw on family ties and local political alliances.

4th District: Richard Gomez vs. Vicente Veloso

Leyte’s 4th District will see a high-profile contest between incumbent Rep.Richard Gomez and former Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals, Vicente Veloso.

Gomez, a former actor and mayor of Ormoc City, is seeking his second term as the district’s congressman.

His challenger, Vicente Veloso, is a seasoned politician and legal expert who previously represented Leyte’s 3rd district.

The 4th district race is likely to be one of the most closely watched contests in Leyte.

5th District: Carl Cari

In Leyte’s 5th district, incumbent congressman Carl Cari is running for his second term.

As of October 7, Cari is unopposed, indicating strong support from his constituents.

Cari has expressed his gratitude to the people of the 5th district, emphasizing that he seeks re-election to continue the projects and programs initiated during his first term.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY – The official list of 14 candidates for the Miss Leyte Liberation 2024 pageant has been released.

Organized by the provincial government of Leyte, this annual beauty pageant is one of the highlights of the activities commemorating the historic Leyte Gulf Landings.

This year’s candidates represent various municipalities and cities across the province, and they include Corinne de la Cruz of Abuyog;Khristel Loirah Pulga of Alangalang; Christina Vanhefflin of Babatngon; Shimeah Riz Monge of Barugo; Sheena Margarette Abayabay of Baybay City; Kristine Llaneta of Carigara; Laijan Sel Chan of Dulag; Michelle Balderas of Hilongos; Maxine Sophia Comaling of Javier;Shaan Morata of Ormoc City; Karen Janario of Palo;Frances Aimela Villablanca of Pastrana;Jamby Belegorio of Tacloban City; Stephanie Ocaña of Tolosa; and Niña Athena Ariza of Tunga.

In addition to vying for the coveted Miss Leyte Liberation 2024 title, the contestants will also compete for two other prestigious crowns: Miss Leyte Heritage 2024 and Miss Leyte Tourism 2024.

The pageant will also award first and second runners-up.

The winner of Miss Leyte Liberation 2024 will take home a cash prize of P80,000, a custom-made crown, and the honor of representing Leyte in a national pageant.

Meanwhile, Miss Leyte Heritage 2024 will receive P50,000 along with her crown, and Miss Leyte Tourism 2024 will be awarded P40,000 and a crown.

The first and second runners-up will be awarded P30,000 and P20,000, respectively.
The grand coronation night is scheduled for October 18, as part of the province’s commemoration of the Leyte Gulf Landings, a pivotal event in World War II that led to the liberation of the Philippines from Japanese occupation.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

But Oñate claims political harassment

TACLOBAN CITY – Palompon, Leyte Mayor Ramon Oñate has been dismissed from government service after being found guilty of grave misconduct and serious dishonesty by the Office of the Ombudsman.

The decision also includes his perpetual disqualification from reentering government service.

The ruling, issued by the Office of the Ombudsman-Manila, stems from Oñate’s actions during his tenure as vice mayor of Palompon in 2021.

Based on a 22-page decision approved by Assistant Ombudsman Pilarita Lapitan and dated September 10, Oñate, along with several co-accused, including seven members of the Sangguniang Bayan, was found guilty of misusing public funds.

The case was filed by Ian Jay Arevalo, who alleged that Oñate and his co-accused authorized the purchase of fuel, oil, and lubricants for three “unserviceable” vehicles between January and March 2021, amounting to P57,870.05.

Arevalo claimed that the vehicles had been decommissioned since 2020, as certified by the municipal motor pool officer and the general services officer.

He described the vehicles as being “parked in the junkyard, with mutilated plates and completely dilapidated.”

The Ombudsman ruled that Oñate and his accomplices committed grave misconduct by “unlawfully using their public offices to procure benefits for themselves.”

The court also found them guilty of serious dishonesty for falsifying public documents related to the transactions.

“Wherefore, judgment is hereby rendered finding Oñate… guilty of grave misconduct and serious dishonesty. He is hereby meted with dismissal from the service, cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, and perpetual disqualification from government employment,” the ruling stated.

Also found guilty were Sangguniang Bayan members Margarito Bensig Jr., Esperanza Sumalinog, Emmanuel Laurente, Consuelo Bonghanoy, Ranulfo Gaspan Sr., Jonathan Yap, and Rene Camposano, along with local legislative staff assistant Debbie Ann Dignos.
However, former councilors Evana Kirstie Misagal and William Balasabas, as well as driver Ranulfo Gaspan Jr., were acquitted as they were no longer part of the town council when the complaint was filed.

In response, Oñate claimed the Ombudsman’s decision was politically motivated, asserting that his role in signing the vouchers was merely ministerial as head of the town council.
He pointed out that the Sangguniang Bayan secretary, who prepared the documents, and the town mayor, who released the funds, were not included in the complaint.

“We were all found guilty, yet the SB secretary who prepared the documents and the mayor who released the funds were not part of the complaint,” Oñate said in an interview on Friday, October 1.

Oñate further alleged that the complainant, Ian Jay Arevalo, is the wife of former Mayor Georgina Arevalo, who is expected to run against him in the next election.

He noted that the same case was dismissed by the Ombudsman in Cebu in February of last year but was refiled in October 2023 at the Office of the Ombudsman-Manila, which led to the recent decision.

The decision, delivered to him on September 30, came just one day before the filing of certificates of candidacy (CoC) for the upcoming elections.

“It was meant to distract me, but I am not bothered because I did not steal a single centavo from the government,” Oñate said, adding that he filed his CoC on October 2 despite the ruling.

Oñate also questioned the manner in which the order was delivered, claiming it was handed to him by a representative of the Ombudsman rather than the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), which he said should have been the proper protocol for an elected official.

He has already discussed the matter with his legal team to plan their next move.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)