ILOILO City – Sacked Bacolod City Police Office deputy director for operations Police Lieutenant Colonel Jovie Espenido is “very apologetic” but may still face an administrative charge for violating the gag order of General Archie Franciso Gamboa, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief.
Police Brigadier General Rene Pasmuspusan, Western Visayas police director, confirmed having started an investigation on Espenido’s holding of an “unauthorized press conference” in Bacolod City on Feb. 19 and discussing with Iloilo journalists on Feb. 20 his inclusion in the government’s drug watch list.
“During our initial talk, he said he was willing to be investigated. He was very apologetic to the Chief PNP but I told him we have to follow PNP regulations,” said Pamuspusan.
Espenido questioned his inclusion in the watch list and criticized the police organization for “failure of intelligence” despite Gamboa’s order for the over 300 policemen in the watch list not to discuss the matter while verification is ongoing.
Pamuspusan said he ordered Espenido to explain.
“I think the PNP leadership sees it as a violation of the instruction. As regional police director I initiated an investigation,” said Pamuspusan.
Talking to Iloilo journalists Thursday last week, Espenido said he does not fear issuing a statement despite a gag order.
“Kung sakaling ano ang mangyari, kasi nagpa-interview ako, I will suffer the consequences,” Espenido said.
He added: “This is my right. I have my personal right. ‘Wag ninyo lang akong bawalan or else wala akong magawa din. Demokrasya tayo. Kung kasuhan ako, kung ito na lang ang paraan na ma-dismiss ako sa serbisyo, then let it be.”
In his Bacolod City press conference, on the other hand, Espenido accused unnamed “influential politicians” of scheming to include his name in the government’s list of policemen with alleged links to illegal drugs, but he did not say if these politicians were based in Bacolod City or Negros Occidental, or elsewhere in the country.
Espenido is currently detailed at the PRO-6’s Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit while waiting for the result of Camp Crame’s investigation on his alleged drug links.
Pamuspusan already cleared Espenido on this matter. He said the PRO-6 has no evidence but added that Camp Came “baka may iba pa silang evidence na hindi namin nakuha dito.”
“So the final say is still with Camp Crame,” said Pamuspusan.
Former national police chief and now senator Ronald Dela Rosa also took offense on Espenido’s recent actions which he said were putting the police institution in a bad light.
Though vouching for Espenido’s integrity, Dela Rosa advised him to leave the organization if he cannot keep quiet.
“You are still in the PNP organization. You observe what should be observed. Talking indiscriminately is not observing the proper decorum. Otherwise, kung gusto niya magsalita nang magsalita against the PNP, lumabas siya, umalis siya,” Dela Rosa said in media interview in Camp Crame.
Meanwhile, President Rodrigo Duterte once again expressed his trust and confidence in Espenido.
President Duterte said in an interview with GMA 7’s 24 Oras on Saturday evening that intelligence information gathered by his “trusted men” proved Espenido was not involved in illegal drug trade.
“Malinis ‘yan si Espenido. He’s a victim of an orchestrated effort to discredit him,” said Duterte./PN
