CAMPAIGN TRAIL Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa begins his marketing campaign to develop into the following mayor of Albuera, Leyte, the place his late father, Rolando Sr., additionally served as mayor. —ROEL T.AMAZON/CONTRIBUTOR
ALBUERA, LEYTE, Philippines — Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa, as soon as recognized by the police as the most important drug lord in Jap Visayas, is operating for mayor right here on a platform of ridding his hometown of unlawful medicine.
However as a substitute of taking an ironfisted strategy, Espinosa stated he was extra for rehabilitating drug customers whereas jailing the pushers.
Kerwin, 47, who’s operating below his native occasion, Bando Espinosa-Pundok Kausaban, stated the dying of his father, former Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr., in an alleged shootout whereas in jail in 2016 made him flip over a brand new leaf and search the city’s highest submit to resolve the issue of unlawful medicine.
READ: Manila courtroom acquits Kerwin Espinosa, others over August 2016 drug raid
He acknowledged that everyone knew about his previous involvement in narcotics.
“Due to my mistaken choices and involvement in unlawful medicine, my father died,” stated Kerwin in an announcement despatched to the Inquirer on Monday.
READ: Kerwin Espinosa is a local of Cebu Metropolis
“I don’t need others to expertise what I went via. I’ve seen the dangerous results of medicine on folks. It isn’t good.”
‘Capital’ of unlawful medicine in Jap Visayas
Again then, Albuera, the place the Espinosas wielded energy and affect, grew to become the “capital” of unlawful medicine in Jap Visayas. This was the time when Rodrigo Duterte had simply assumed the presidency and began his brutal warfare on medicine nationwide.
On orders from then Philippine Nationwide Police chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, police groups raided the Espinosa household compound in Barangay Binulho right here in August 2016. Then Mayor Espinosa was arrested whereas six of his males had been killed within the operation.
READ: Kerwin Espinosa drug group making a comeback in Cebu?
Kerwin fled the nation however was ultimately arrested in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Oct. 17, 2016. He was deported a month later.
Rolando Sr. was detained on drug fees on the subprovincial jail in Baybay Metropolis, Leyte, the place he was later killed in a supposed shootout with authorities on Nov. 5, 2016.
Kerwin was among the many jailed drug lords who linked then-Sen. Leila de Lima to the unlawful drug commerce. He later recanted, saying he was solely compelled to testify towards her.
The drug instances filed towards him had been ultimately dismissed by regional trial courts (RTC) in Makati, Manila, and Baybay Metropolis for insufficiency of proof.
Kerwin remains to be going through a cash laundering case earlier than a Pasay Metropolis courtroom and two instances—for unlawful medicine and firearms—that the Courtroom of Appeals ordered reopened earlier than a Manila RTC.
Reclaiming pa’s seat
Within the Could elections, Kerwin is going through reelectionist Mayor Sixto de la Victoria and Leyte Board Member Vincent Rama.
Working for vice mayor with Kerwin is his youthful sister, Mariel. —with a report from Inquirer Analysis
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