Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa, who has been identified as the leading drug lord in Eastern Visayas---and one time in fact confessed as one--is running for mayor of Albuera, Leyte.
He is running under his local party, Bando Espinosa-Pundok Kausaban. He stated that the death of his father, former Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr., in an alleged shootout while in jail in 2016 prompted him to turn over a new leaf. He aims to seek the town's highest office in order to tackle the issue of illegal drugs, among others.
He acknowledged that it was widely known that he had previously been involved with narcotics. Reflecting on his past Espinosa stated, “Because of my wrong decisions and involvement in illegal drugs, my father died. I do not want others to experience what I went through. I have seen the harmful effects of drugs on people. It is not good.”
Drug leaders
Albuera was recognized as the “capital” of illegal drug activities in Eastern Visayas, with significant control exerted by the Espinosa family. This was the time when Rodrigo Duterte had just assumed the presidency and started his brutal war on drugs nationwide.
In August 2016, following orders from then Philippine National Police Chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, law enforcement conducted a raid on the Espinosa family compound located in Barangay Binulho. As a result of this operation, then-Mayor Espinosa was apprehended, while six of his associates were killed.
Kerwin Espinosa initially fled the country but was arrested on October 17, 2016, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and subsequently deported to Manila a month later, where he faced charges related to his alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade.
Kerwin's father, Rolando Espinosa, a former mayor of Albuera, was killed on November 5, 2016. Sources indicated that he allegedly attempted to engage law enforcement in a shootout while being held for drug charges at a local jail in Baybay City, Leyte. Before his death, Rolando surrendered to the Philippine National Police and confessed that he and his son were allegedly involved in manufacturing and trafficking shabu from their operations in Albuera.
While in jail, Kerwin claimed that then-Senator Leila de Lima was involved in the illegal drug trade. However, he later took back that statement, saying he had been pressured to testify against her.
Additionally, in October 2024, during a House quad committee meeting that examined the government's efforts against drugs and crimes related to Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos), Kerwin stated that Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa had pressured him into naming former Senator Leila De Lima as a “protector” of illegal drug syndicates.
The drug charges against Kerwin were eventually dismissed by regional trial courts in Makati, Manila, and Baybay City, Leyte, due to lack of evidence.
In December 2023, Kerwin was released from the prison. However, he continues to face a separate charge of money laundering in a Pasay City court, as well as two reopened cases concerning illegal drugs and firearms, as mandated by a ruling from the Court of Appeals addressed to a regional trial court in Manila.
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