Albuera Mayor Kerwin Espinosa has surrendered his loose firearms to authorities, saying he wants to demonstrate that he is now committed to being a law-abiding citizen.
ALBUERA, LEYTE — Albuera Mayor Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa has turned over his loose firearms to police, in what he described as a step toward proving that he is now choosing to follow the law.
The development comes as Espinosa attempts to move forward from years of controversy surrounding his name, including previous allegations involving illegal drugs and firearms.
The Cebu Daily News report said Espinosa voluntarily surrendered the firearms to authorities and framed the move as part of his effort to show that he is now “law-abiding.”
The surrender is particularly notable given Espinosa’s long history of legal controversies involving firearms. In September 2023, a Manila Regional Trial Court acquitted him in a case involving alleged illegal possession of firearms and explosives stemming from a 2016 police raid. The Philippine News Agency likewise reported that the gun-possession charges had been dismissed.
A very different chapter from his earlier legal battles
Espinosa has remained a highly controversial political figure in Leyte. He was elected mayor of Albuera in the 2025 elections, while his sister, Mariel/RR Espinosa, won the vice mayoral race.
His latest firearms surrender also comes after another major legal episode earlier this year.
In February 2026, Espinosa voluntarily surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation in Cebu after a Cebu City Regional Trial Court issued an arrest warrant in connection with a murder case. He surrendered together with two co-accused.
But that case took an unexpected turn days later.
On February 10, the Cebu court recalled and set aside the arrest warrant after determining that it did not have jurisdiction over the alleged murder because the offense was alleged to have occurred in Albuera, Leyte. The case was ordered returned to the appropriate court in Leyte, and Espinosa was subsequently released from the Cebu City Jail.
That distinction is important: Espinosa’s release in February was based on the Cebu court’s jurisdictional ruling and was not a finding that the underlying murder allegations were proven false. The court said the alleged crime occurred in Albuera and therefore the Cebu court could not assume jurisdiction.
Firearms remain a major issue in Leyte
The surrender also comes against the backdrop of continuing law-enforcement efforts against loose firearms in the province.
In April 2025, seven police officers became subjects of complaints after 14 firearms were voluntarily surrendered during an investigation connected to the shooting of then-Albuera mayoral candidate Espinosa.
Leyte police said only five of the 14 firearms were officially issued, while eight were classified as loose firearms. The weapons included rifles, .45-caliber pistols, a Mini Uzi and 9mm pistols. Authorities said complaints were filed for alleged violations of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act and the election gun ban.
Espinosa himself had been wounded in a shooting incident during the 2025 campaign period. Police subsequently investigated the incident and cautioned the public against speculation while the investigation was ongoing.
Why the latest move matters
For Espinosa, voluntarily surrendering loose firearms carries significance beyond the weapons themselves.
The move allows him to publicly distance himself from the image and controversies that have followed him for years while emphasizing compliance with the law.
It also comes at a time when authorities continue to focus on the proliferation of unauthorized firearms, particularly in areas where political rivalries and election-related violence have historically raised security concerns.
Still, surrendering firearms does not by itself erase or resolve any separate criminal proceedings or allegations involving Espinosa. Each case must be evaluated independently based on the status of the relevant court proceedings.
For now, however, Espinosa is presenting the firearms surrender as a clear message: he wants the public to see a different version of the controversial mayor.
And that may be the most closely watched part of this latest development — whether the surrender marks a genuine turning point for Kerwin Espinosa, or simply another chapter in the long-running controversies surrounding him.
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