Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Marie Torres-Gomez has officially filed a petition to disqualify Albuera mayoral candidate Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa, citing violations of the Omnibus Election Code following his controversial Facebook live broadcast.
Dated May 6, 2025, the petition alleges that Espinosa committed an election offense under Section 68(e) of Section 261(e) of the Omnibus Election Code. The cited provision prohibits the use of threats, intimidation, terrorism, or other forms of coercion to influence or disrupt the electoral process.
The filing stems from a Facebook live video Espinosa aired on April 30, 2025, which was viewed live by over 900 people. During the livestream, Espinosa directly challenged Congressman Richard Gomez, husband of Mayor Torres-Gomez, to a gunfight. He even proposed that the military and police serve as referees, and encouraged Gomez to bring his “most powerful firearms.”
Espinosa went further by suggesting that both parties sign a waiver promising not to file any legal cases in connection with the proposed shootout.
This public challenge came shortly after the Gomezes filed an oral defamation case against Espinosa. The defamation complaint was in response to multiple Facebook live videos by Espinosa criticizing the couple, especially after he was injured in a shooting incident on April 10, 2025.
Mayor Torres-Gomez described Espinosa’s actions as dangerous and a blatant form of intimidation aimed at undermining fair and peaceful elections. In her petition, she called for Espinosa to be declared disqualified from running for mayor of Albuera, Leyte, and to be held accountable for violating election laws.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has yet to state the petition, but legal experts note that if Espinosa is found guilty of the election offense, it could not only lead to his disqualification but also criminal liability.
Espinosa, who previously gained notoriety for alleged involvement in the drug trade, has yet to publicly respond to the disqualification case.
The situation has intensified political tensions in Leyte as the 2025 elections draw closer.