Cebu RTC frees Kerwin Espinosa, co-accused over lack of jurisdiction

A court in Cebu City has ordered the immediate release of Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolan Kerwin Espinosa and several co-accused after ruling that it has no jurisdiction over the murder case filed against them.

In a two-page order dated 10 February 2026, Regional Trial Court Branch 14 Judge Merlo Bagano said the case should be handled by a court with territorial jurisdiction over Albuera, where the alleged killing took place.

“For lack of jurisdiction, the case must be returned back to the judicial region having territorial jurisdiction over Albuera, Leyte, where the crime of Murder was allegedly committed,” the court said.

The RTC recalled and set aside the warrants of arrest earlier issued against Espinosa and his co-accused: Eddie Mar Demingcoy Mitra alias “Rico Francisco,” Marcelo Adorco alias “Loloy,” and Rolan E. Espinosa alias “Rolando Espinosa Jr.”

The jail warden of the Cebu City Jail–Male Dormitory was directed to release them immediately unless they are being detained for another lawful cause.

The court also ordered the records transmitted to the Office of the Clerk of Court in Cebu City for forwarding to the Regional Trial Court Branch 14 in Baybay City.

As a result of the ruling, the arraignment scheduled for 13 February was canceled.

Espinosa had earlier surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation in Cebu City after the Cebu RTC issued a warrant of arrest in connection with the case.

NBI spokesperson Atty. Palmer Mallari said Espinosa voluntarily turned himself in the day after the warrant was released, opting to surrender instead of waiting to be arrested.

The warrant, which did not recommend bail, stemmed from an alleged murder reported to have occurred in September 2024 in Baybay City.

Espinosa’s camp has denied the allegations, describing the case as politically motivated and driven by his rivals.