Espinosa routs 2 rivals
Carlos Jericho Petilla
TACLOBAN CITY — Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho ‘Icot’ Petilla admitted he was “awed” by the election of Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa as mayor of Albuera, a town once dubbed the drug capital of Eastern Visayas.
Petilla, who secured reelection as governor for his second term, emphasized that while Espinosa’s win was unexpected, he respects the will of the people.
“I was also at awe, just like many others, as to why the people of Albuera chose him. He must have something. I’m trying to figure that out myself,” he said when asked about his reaction to Espinosa’s victory — a self-confessed drug lord, on Tuesday, May 13.
“But if they voted freely — and I mean freely — then we have to respect that. He should be treated as a duly elected mayor,” he added.
Espinosa won by a wide margin, receiving 14,919 votes against Board Member Vincent Rama who got 7,001 votes, and outgoing mayor Sixto de la Victoria, who was backed by Governor Petilla under the principle of “equity of the incumbent,” but only managed 2,761 votes.
Asked whether he believed Espinosa could fulfill his campaign promise of freeing Albuera from illegal drugs, Petilla replied,
“I can only hope and pray.”
Now that Espinosa has been elected, Petilla said he will work with him the same way he does with all other mayors in the province to ensure the delivery of programs and services from the provincial government.
“As long as he does things legally — no illegal activities, no deception — then we need him because the delivery of services in Albuera requires the cooperation of the mayor, down to the barangay chairman,” Petilla said.
“He will be treated as a mayor because he is now the mayor. But he will also be held to the same standards of performance I expect from all other mayors,” he added.
Espinosa could not be reached for comment. A close aide said on Tuesday, that he is currently confined in a hospital for a full treatment of a gunshot wound he sustained during an assassination attempt while campaigning.
(JOEY A. GABIETA/ROEL T.AMAZONA)
