MANILA – Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido is returning to Ozamiz City as police chief despite opposition from a local group, Malacañang said.
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the administration finds “no compelling reason” to revoke Espenido’s reassignment amid the call against it from the Concerned Ozamiz Professionals.
“Espenido’s recall is necessitated by the successful prosecution of the drug cases filed in court against the Parojinogs as he led police operations against illegal drugs in Ozamiz,” Panelo said in a statement.
“Assuming that the incidence of crimes in Ozamiz City has decreased, this can be attributable to the relentless drive of Espenido against criminal elements,” he said.
In fact Espenido should be returned to his previous assignment “so he could continue his determined drive to rid Ozamiz City of illegal drug operators,” Panelo said.
President Rodrigo Duterte, in a recent speech, ordered Espenido’s return to Ozamiz City to run after the remaining Parojinog clan members who he claimed were involved in the drug trade.
Espenido was moved to Catanduanes province in the Bicol Region after leading a raid in July last year that led to the death of alleged narco-politician Ozamiz City mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr. and 15 others.
Prior to this, Espenido was chief of police in Albuera, Leyte. At the time Mayor Rolando Espinosa, another drug suspect, was killed while in police custody./PN
