ILOILO City – “We are police officers, not killers. But if drug dealers resist arrest and fight us, we have to protect ourselves,” according to Police Lieutenant Colonel Jovie Espenido, the new deputy city director for operations of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO).
Espenido’s specific assignment was announced yesterday during his courtesy call to Police Brigadier General Rene Pamuspusan, director of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6), in Camp Delgado.
Espenido, former Ozamiz City police chief, will take charge of antidrug operations in Bacolod City, said Pamuspusan.
Espenido assured the people of Bacolod City that policemen uphold the rule of law and are true to their mission to serve and protect the public. But he won’t promise a bloodless drug war.
“Bacolod City is really a big problem. It and Negros Occidental have become drug sources. I hope Lieutenant Colonel Espenido will deliver,” Pamuspusan said.
Espenido is taking over the post vacated by Police Lieutenant Colonel Leonardo Borromeo who has gone schooling, according to Police Colonel Henry Biñas, BCPO director.
“Lieutenant Colonel Espenido’s new position is critical in the antidrug campaign. He will be leading the oversight committee on illegal drugs. Makatulong siya sa pag-arrest ng mga drug dealers,” said Pamuspusan.
Biñas said he expects an effective working relationship with Espenido. Both had worked together in Cebu City in the past.
“I am familiar with him. He is a hard-working officer,” Biñas told Panay News.
In January this year, President Rodrigo Duterte sacked five Bacolod police officers whom he accused of protecting drug syndicates. He also took potshots at Bacolod City councilor.
Espenido said he is honored to be working in Bacolod City and that he would focus on high-value targets.
“I will do whatever I can contribute to the police organization. We have the same thrust, to eradicate illegal drugs,” said the 51-year-old Leyte native.
Espenido was formally promoted to the rank of Police Lieutenant Colonel yesterday prior to the announcement of his specific Bacolod assignment.
Pamuspusan and Police Colonel Marlon Tayaba, chief of the PRO-6 directorial staff, led a short ceremony for the donning of the new rank insignia of Espenido.
On July 30, 2017 Ozamiz City’s Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog and 14 others were killed in a shootout led by Espenido who was serving search warrants at Parojinog’s properties in barangays Baybay San Roque and Baybay Santa Cruz.
In November 2016, Espenido was also the police chief of Albuera, Leyte when its mayor, Rolando Espinosa Sr., was killed in a shootout as police were attempting to serve a search warrant.
Both Parojinog and Espinosa were linked by President Duterte to illegal drugs.
In Aug. 28, 2017 Espenido was reassigned by no less than the President from Ozamiz City to Iloilo City that he branded as “most shabulized.”
The reassignment, however, was recalled just days after by Duterte himself who said he was giving in to the requests of the residents of Ozamiz City not to transfer Espenido yet.
It was found out that Espenido, then with the rank of Chief Inspector, was not yet qualified to become the director of a police office; he could only be a chief of a police of station.
According to PRO-6 spokesperson Police Lieutenant Colonel Joem Malong, Espenido’s promotion process from major to lieutenant colonel started on July 30, 2017 but was only formalized upon his reassignment to Western Visayas./PN
