“IT’S NOT DYNASTY, but sheer destiny,” were the words of then Biliran Governor Gerardo “Gerryboy” Espina Jr. in response to accusations dragging the clan as a political dynasty before the 2016 elections.
But recent controversies surrounding flood control projects have raised questions about the Espina family’s role in shaping Biliran’s destiny.
PLUNDER CHARGES
Earlier this week, plunder charges were filed before the Ombudsman against the Espina political dynasty, following exposés implicating the clan in the flood control project scandal through Roving Premier Contractors Inc., a company allegedly owned by the family.
Among those charged are Congressman Gerardo Espina Jr., Governor Rogelio Espina, Vice Governor Roselyn Espina-Paras, Naval Mayor Gretchen Espina, and Roving Premier President Irving Doyle Paras.
According to complainant Lord Allan Merced Garcia, the respondents “knowingly and willfully conspired to misappropriate, divert, and plunder public funds through fraudulent, overpriced, and substandard infrastructure projects implemented within the Province of Biliran and the Municipality of Naval.”
FAMILY BUSINESS
In his complaint, Garcia accused Roving Premier—led by the vice governor’s husband, Paras—of being repeatedly and exclusively awarded infrastructure contracts worth hundreds of millions of pesos, in open violation of Republic Act No. 9184.
Furthermore, the projects undertaken by the firm were allegedly defective, substandard, and prematurely damaged, showing signs of cost manipulation and fraudulent implementation.
Previous reports revealed that Roving Premier has bagged 45 contracts in Biliran amounting to ₱1.03 billion in Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) projects, 44 of which were awarded by the district engineering office since 2020.
ETCHED IN HISTORY
Since Biliran’s birth as a province in 1992, the name Espina has been etched on nearly every page of its history.
In Congress, the province’s first representative was Gerardo Espina Sr., who served from 1995 to 2004. He was succeeded by his son Gerryboy Espina, who held the seat until 2007.
The only time Biliranons did not have an Espina in Congress was in 2007, when Glenn Chong defied the odds and won. But in 2010, Chong lost his reelection bid to Rogelio Espina, Gerryboy’s elder brother.
Rogelio went on to complete all three consecutive terms allowed by the Constitution, only to be replaced by Gerryboy again in 2019.
IN FULL CONTROL
The province has had only four governors in its history, two of them bearing the Espina name.
From 2001 to 2010, Rogelio Espina served three consecutive terms as governor before running for Congress. From 2010 to 2019, Gerryboy replaced his brother as governor, later succeeded by Gerard Roger Espina, Rogelio’s son until 2025.
Their siblings, Roselyn Espina-Paras and Rudy Espina, currently serve as Vice Governor and Kawayan Mayor, respectively, and have held various local positions in the past.
Roselyn’s daughter Gretchen is the Mayor of Naval, while her son Anton serves as a councilor.
Despite all these names, the list remains incomplete.
HEAVY INFLUENCE
For the longest time, the Espina clan has been holding favorable positions with deep influence in local politics.
For one, incumbent Representative Gerryboy Espina has been the vice chairperson of the appropriations committee since 2019. The committee wields the so-called “power of the purse.”
From budgeting to project implementation, the Espinas have influence over the entire process, The PH Insider was told.
Further research reveals that local politics in Biliran have remained colorful, even without a strong opposition since 2007.
LEGAL HARASSMENT
Signs of systemic censorship and harassment are also evident. The complainant, Garcia, is one of the most vocal critics of the Espinas.
This has earned him online attacks from what appear to be “attack dogs” hurling insults at critics like him. Garcia claims to have been the target of legal harassment from the Espinas through the filing of charges.
Earlier this year, Gretchen Espina filed multiple counts of libel against Garcia for “posting, speaking, and spreading unfounded accusations and statements of corruption, imputation of crimes, and defects in videos and social media posts… which are all geared to malign my (her) reputation.”
An email sent to the media by another critic, Daniel Silk, also accused the Espinas of attempting to have him deported through “false and fabricated evidence.”
Meanwhile, Ashi Santini Lagat, another vocal influencer, filed a complaint with U.S. cyber authorities in New York concerning coordinated online harassment and fake accounts allegedly traced to Biliran.
CENSORSHIP, BRIBERY
A post on Biliran.ph also showed a certain Leonard Olaer, identifying himself as Congressman Gerryboy’s staff, asking the page to delete a post showing the congressman’s signature in support of the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte.
A similar incident happened to The PH Insider, when someone claiming to work for the governor sent a message asking for the takedown of an article titled “Infra Projects Just for Espina’s Roving Premier?”— even offering: “Name your price.”
DESTINY FULFILLED
For over three decades, the Espinas have been claiming that the government position they have is a matter of “destiny” — to lead Biliran.
But despite their long rule, the province’s potential remains largely untapped, its natural beauty underappreciated, and its progress stunted.
Since its creation as a province, the Espinas have shaped Biliran’s future from the top.