By ADRIAN STEWART CO and RUBY
SILUBRICO
MANILA – Malacañang assured controversial Police Lieutenant Colonel Jovie
Espenido that President Rodrigo Duterte won’t allow him to get harmed outside
of legal processes.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Espenido “must have some reasons” for fearing for his life due to his inclusion in the government’s drug watch list.
But Duterte won’t allow harm to come the police official’s way, stressed Panelo.
“If that is Colonel Espenido’s fear,
we cannot stop him (from feeling) such. He must have some reasons,” Panelo said
in a media briefing yesterday.
He then said, “Espenido can request [for protection] just like any other
citizen.”
Panelo reiterated that President Duterte believes Espenido is “clean” of any drug links and the allegations against the police officer were “untrue” and nothing but “black propaganda.”
Espenido, listed among 357 policemen in Duterte’s drug watch list, said in a press conference on Wednesday in Bacolod City that the “government” could go after him and kill him.
On Feb. 7, he was removed as deputy director for operations of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO).
CLEARED ALREADY?
In Iloilo City’s Camp Delgado, the headquarters of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6), Police Brigadier General Rene Pamuspusan, Western Visayas police director, said Espenido has already been “adjudicated” in the regional level.
“Wala naman tayong reliable information or validated report that he is involved in illegal drugs, so he was cleared,” said Pamuspusan.
He, however, said the “final adjudication” will come from the national police headquarters.
Espenido showed up at the PRO-6 yesterday, a day after blasting “influential politicians” during a press conference at the BCPO on Wednesday.
Pamuspusan said Espenido has been ordered to return to the PRO-6 but without a specific assignment, thus the official was placed under the Regional Personnel Accounting Unit.
‘BAKIT AKO?’
Espenido made a name for himself after leading operations against illegal drug suspects.
In 2016, he was the chief of police in Albuera, Leyte when then mayor Ronaldo Espinosa, detained as a drug suspect, was shot dead inside the sub-provincial jail in Baybay City, Leyte.
In 2017 as Ozamiz City police chief, Espenido raided the house of drug suspect Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog who died in a shootout that ensued.
Just this Feb. 7 Espenido was recalled from his assignment in Bacolod City after his name was included in the latest drug list of the President.
The other day Panelo said, “It’s not unexpected that there may be some flaws in intelligence gathering. That happens. Sometimes they’re even intentional. You’re being fed with the wrong info coming from those who are against a particular police officer.”
“(Espenido) could have been singled out. The President says it’s black propaganda. Definitely marami talaga siyang nasagasaan kaya napag-initan ng mga involved,” said Panelo.
But overall, the Presidential spokesperson said, Duterte’s drug list remains credible.
Espenido accused unnamed “influential politicians” for scheming to include his name in the government’s list of policemen with alleged links to illegal drugs.
“Why are you resorting to character assassination? Nagpapakita lang ba na kayo ay guilty?” Espenido asked.
The police official believed he may have ruffled the feathers of some politicians in his assiduous campaign against illegal drugs.
“Bakit ako? Bakit natabo sa akin (ito),” lamented Espenido. “Hindi man ako politician. Dapat tigilan na ang pag-accuse sa akin.”/PN
