Kerwin Espinosa has been proclaimed the new mayor of Albuera, Leyte, after securing victory in the 2025 midterm elections.
Espinosa received 10,939 votes, defeating rivals Vince Rama (7,081 votes) and incumbent Sixto dela Victoria (2,761 votes), based on partial and unofficial results as of Tuesday morning.
In an interview with GMA Integrated News, Espinosa said his top priority will be restoring peace and order and eradicating illegal drugs in the town. “We will enforce zero tolerance on drugs. I want to prove that I am not a drug lord—I was just a victim of circumstances,” he said.
Espinosa previously admitted involvement in the drug trade during a 2016 Senate hearing but later claimed his testimony lacked solid evidence. In 2024, a Baybay, Leyte court dismissed one of the drug charges against him. However, he still faces money laundering and illegal possession charges.
Just last April, Espinosa was injured in a shooting incident during a campaign event in Barangay Tabgas.