ALBUERA, LEYTE — Albuera Mayor Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa has surrendered his loose firearms to local police authorities, saying he voluntarily complied with the directive as part of his commitment to obey the law.
Bombo Radyo reported on August 22 that Espinosa turned over the unlicensed firearms following a police call for the surrender of loose firearms. The mayor said he complied without hesitation to demonstrate that he is now a law-abiding citizen.
Espinosa, however, clarified that he would keep his licensed firearm, which he said he considers necessary for his personal protection because of possible threats against his life.
“I will keep the firearm that is licensed as protection for myself against people who may have bad intentions toward my life,” Espinosa said in a statement quoted by the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Number of firearms not disclosed
Authorities have not publicly disclosed how many firearms Espinosa surrendered or what specific types of weapons were turned over.
The surrender comes amid intensified police efforts to account for loose firearms and enforce firearm licensing and registration requirements. Recent incidents involving shootings and the reported use of government-owned firearms have also heightened concerns over unauthorized access to weapons.
The distinction between the surrendered weapons and the firearm Espinosa says he will retain is important: the mayor’s statement indicates that the firearm he plans to keep is licensed, while the weapons turned over to police were described as loose or unlicensed firearms.
Espinosa’s legal history adds context
The latest development comes against the backdrop of Espinosa’s long-running legal and political controversies.
In February 2026, Espinosa surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation in Cebu after the Cebu City Regional Trial Court Branch 14 issued a warrant of arrest against him and four others in connection with a murder case. The warrant was issued on February 4, 2026, and prosecutors did not recommend bail.
Espinosa and his sister won the mayoral and vice-mayoral races in Albuera during the 2025 elections, according to the Philippine News Agency.
He has also faced previous allegations linking him to the illegal drug trade, allegations he has denied. It is important to distinguish those allegations from court outcomes: in September 2023, a Manila court acquitted Espinosa of charges involving illegal possession of firearms and explosives after finding that prosecutors failed to establish that he had actual or constructive possession or control of the weapons involved in that case.
That earlier acquittal involved a different set of firearms allegations and should not be confused with the loose firearms he voluntarily surrendered to Albuera police on August 22, 2026.
A political statement as much as a security move?
For Espinosa, the firearm surrender is more than a police compliance measure. His public explanation frames it as an effort to demonstrate that he is willing to follow government directives and present himself as a law-abiding local chief executive.
The move also places the spotlight on the continuing campaign against loose firearms in the Philippines, particularly as authorities push for stricter compliance with firearm licensing and registration rules.
For now, one major question remains unanswered: How many firearms did the Albuera mayor actually surrender, and what were they?
Authorities have yet to publicly provide those details.
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