(PHOTO COURTESY)
TACLOBAN CITY – Self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa filed his certificate of candidacy (CoC) for mayor of Albuera, Leyte, on Tuesday, October 1.
Espinosa is running under Bando Espinosa-Pundok Kausaban, a local party he established.
In his speech to supporters after submitting his CoC at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office, the controversial mayoralty candidate vowed to uplift the lives of the people of Albuera.
“Join me in my campaign to improve the lives of every Albueranon. My administration will focus on the welfare of children, youth, and the elderly,” Espinosa stated.
Dressed in a blue campaign t-shirt, he compared himself to the cartoon superhero Batman, claiming he would help those who are aggrieved. “He fights against those who oppress the poor,” he added.
Outgoing mayor Sixto de la Victoria acknowledged Espinosa’s right to run for office in an earlier interview.
“That is his right unless there is a lawful order against him,” he said. De la Victoria is stepping down due to health reasons.
Among Espinosa’s potential rivals is board member Michael Rama, the brother-in-law of Leyte Rep. Richard Gomez.
Albuera, a third-class municipality with over 47,000 residents, has a poverty incidence of approximately 29%, according to 2021 data from the Philippine Statistics Authority.
The town gained notoriety as a central hub for illegal drug operations in Eastern Visayas, allegedly run by the Espinosa family.
Kerwin’s father, Rolando Espinosa Sr., was elected mayor of Albuera in the 2016 elections but was later arrested for his involvement in drug operations, as claimed by former president Rodrigo Duterte.
He was killed inside his cell at the Baybay City sub-provincial jail during a reported shootout with Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) operatives on November 5, 2016.
Kerwin Espinosa was arrested in Dubai and detained on drug charges.
In June of this year, a regional trial court in Baybay City dismissed the drug case against him due to insufficient evidence.
However, he still faces money laundering charges in a Pasay court, along with pending cases for illegal drug possession and firearms in a Manila court.
Espinosa previously implicated former senator Leila de Lima in illegal drug activities but later recanted his statements.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
