Kerwin faces DQ rap for threats vs Goma
TACLOBAN CITY—A petition for disqualification was filed against Albuera mayoral candidate Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa for allegedly challenging Leyte Rep. Richard Gomez to a gunfight, an act considered as a threat and form of intimidation.
Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez, Gomez’s wife, filed an 11-page petition before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on May 6, seeking to cancel Espinosa’s candidacy.
According to Lucy, the incident constitutes a violation of Section 68 (e) in relation to Section 261 (e) of the Omnibus Election Code, which prohibits acts of violence or threats against opponents during the election period.
Espinosa, in a statement he posted on social media on Wednesday night, said he was ready to respond to the disqualification case filed by Lucy.
“I am not afraid of the disqualification case you filed against me. I will answer that,” he said.
“I have my younger sister who will succeed me. I have planned this all along,” added Espinosa whose sister, Mariel, is running for vice mayor of their native Albuera.
Their father, Rolando Sr., once served as mayor and was slain in a reported shootout while in detention for drug charges in the Leyte subprovincial jail in Baybay City in 2016.
The petition for Espinosa’s disqualification stemmed from a Facebook Live video posted by Espinosa on April 30.
In the 40-minute broadcast, which was viewed live by over 900 people and garnered more than 70,000 views, Espinosa challenged Gomez—an actor popularly known as Goma and who is running for reelection as representative of Leyte’s fourth congressional district—to an armed duel.
Espinosa, who once confessed to being a drug lord, suggested that policemen and soldiers serve as referees and encouraged Gomez to bring his “most powerful” firearms.
He also proposed that both parties sign a waiver ensuring no legal action would be taken against whoever survives the duel.
‘Mockery’
Lucy, in her petition, described Espinosa’s statements as “not only criminal but also a mockery of the elections,” claiming they were intended to assert political dominance through violence rather than legitimate campaigning.
“Coming from a self-confessed killer, those are not mere insults. These are serious and dangerous threats meant to terrorize, instill fear among the electorate, and intimidate them from voting,” she said.
The conflict between Espinosa and the Gomez couple came after the confessed drug lord was shot and wounded during a campaign sortie in Albuera on April 10.
Espinosa raised the possibility that the attack was linked to politics, pointing out that one of his rivals in the mayoral race is Leyte Board Member Vincent Rama, husband of Caren Torres, older sister of Lucy.
At least seven police officers from Ormoc City were arrested and charged in relation to the shooting of Espinosa.
According to Espinosa, the policemen from Ormoc City were arrested by the Albuera police inside the house of a Department of Public Works and Highways official whom he described as a close ally of Gomez.
Gomez, however, dismissed Espinosa’s claims and urged the public not to believe the allegations made by Espinosa who, he reiterated, was a “confessed drug lord.”
“Do not believe somebody like him who has no credibility and is a self-confessed drug lord,” Gomez said. “He will not do anything good for mankind.”
Espinosa, 47, is running for mayor of Albuera under the “Bando Espinosa, Pundok Kausaban” (Team Espinosa, Reform Group).
His opponents include Rama and reelectionist Albuera Mayor Sixto de la Victoria.
