Kerwin Espinosa filed a complaint against these LGU employees
Mayor Kerwin Espinosa took action against employees of Albuera, Leyte, who tested positive for drug use.
Kerwin, or Rolan Espinosa, became the talk of the town in 2016 because of the controversial war on drugs of the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Espinosa created a loud buzz as a self-confessed drug lord. During the Senate hearing, he pinned down former Senator Leila de Lima, and as a result, the latter was detained for six years.
However, in a hearing in October 2024, Kerwin Espinosa played a different tune. He said that he was just forced to pin down de Lima, as well as Peter Lim.
In the 2025 midterm elections, Espinosa ran for Mayor in Leyte, and he won. Based on the report in The Philippine Star, the self-confessed drug lord filed charges against their LGU’s employees who tested positive for drug use after a random surprise testing was held this month.
In a post on the official page of the Mayor’s Office, it was said that the random testing was part of Espinosa’s effort in ensuring that their city would be a drug-free workplace.
“Mayor Espinosa has officially filed a formal charge for grave misconduct against personnel of this municipality, following the findings of a preliminary investigation conducted by the investigating committee,” the post stated.
The town employees of Albuera, Leyte, are facing complaints for allegedly violating the Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, Dangerous Drugs Board regulations, and the 2017 Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service.
“The committee found prima facie evidence pointing to a serious administrative offense, defined as wrongful, improper or unlawful conduct committed with willful intent and in blatant disregard of established laws and rules,” the Mayor’s Office’s post stated.
However, the names of the LGU employees who were accused of drug use were not mentioned.