Former Albuera Mayor Kerwin Espinosa Voluntarily Surrenders to NBI in Cebu Over Murder Charges
In a significant development in Cebu, former Albuera Mayor Rolan "Kerwin" Espinosa has surrendered to authorities at the National Bureau of Investigation Central Visayas Regional Office (NBI-Cevro). The surrender occurred on the morning of Thursday, February 5, 2026, following the issuance of an arrest warrant connected to a murder case filed against him.
Details of the Surrender and Legal Proceedings
According to official reports from the NBI, Espinosa arrived at the NBI-Cevro office at approximately 10:45 a.m., accompanied by his lawyer, Jesus Obejaro, and two co-accused individuals. The surrender was prompted by a letter-request from the defense team, which sought the service of a warrant of arrest issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 14 in Cebu City.
The warrant, signed by Presiding Judge Merlo Pasco Bagano, specifically addresses Criminal Case R-CEB-26-00564-CR. This case charges Espinosa with a violation of Article 248 (Murder) under the Revised Penal Code, highlighting the serious nature of the allegations.
Espinosa's Public Appeal and Social Media Confirmation
Espinosa confirmed his surrender through a Facebook post, where he shared a video message. In the video, he expressed his decision not to wait for law enforcement to serve the arrest warrant, stating in Cebuano: "Nigawas na akong warrant mga alas dyes. Padung na ko sa gitugyanan sa balaud para musurrender. Dili na nato paaboton nga iserve pa nila ang maong warrant" (I already received the warrant at around 10 o’clock. I’m on my way to the proper authorities to surrender. We won’t wait for them to serve the warrant anymore).
He also made a heartfelt appeal to the residents of Albuera, Leyte, urging them to pray for his safety during this process. Espinosa said: "Iampo na lang ninyo ang safety sa akong kinabuhi. Iampo na lang ninyo ang akoang pagsurrender nga walay mahitabo nga dautan" (Just pray for my safety. Pray that my surrender will go smoothly without anything bad happening).
Current Status and Ongoing Investigations
NBI-Cevro has confirmed that all three accused individuals were taken into custody immediately upon their arrival at the office. Authorities are currently processing them for immediate commitment, although further details regarding the specific circumstances of the murder case have not been released as of this writing.
This surrender marks a pivotal moment in the legal proceedings against Espinosa, emphasizing the ongoing efforts by Philippine authorities to address serious criminal allegations. The case continues to unfold, with updates expected as more information becomes available from the NBI and judicial bodies involved.
