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BY RUBY P. SILUBRICO
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ILOILO City – With a rank of Chief Inspector, Ozamiz City police chief Jovie Espenido is not yet qualified to become the police director either of this city or Iloilo province, according to the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6).
Espenido could only be a chief of police of stations either under the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) or Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO), clarified Superintendent Gilbert Gorero, PRO-6 spokesperson.
“Iloilo City is a highly-urbanized city. To head the ICPO, a police officer should have the rank of Senior Superintendent,” said Gorero.
Unlike Iloilo City, Ozamiz City is just a component city of Misamis Occidental.
Late afternoon yesterday, ICPO director Senior Superintendent Remus Zacharias Canieso received Special Order 8813 from Philippine National Police’s (PNP) Director General Ronald Dela Rosa transferring him to the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) as Chief of the Directorial Staff, a higher post for him to be promoted to one-star general.
There were unverified reports yesterday that Espenido was promoted to Superintendent on Monday after President Rodrigo Duterte announced his new assignment in Iloilo.
“(But) even if Espenido would be promoted one rank higher (to Superintendent), he is still not qualified to head the ICPO or IPPO. He has to be promoted to Senior Superintendent. But so far, never in Philippine National Police history has a police officer been moved to two ranks higher in a spot promotion,” said Gorero.
Canieso, meanwhile, welcomed his transfer to the ARMM.
“This is part of my career advancement. I need this to be promoted to a higher rank and post. Some of my classmates are already holding higher posts. Late na ako sa mga classmates ko that’s why I need to leave the ICPO,” Canieso explained.
Canieso had been leading the ICPO for a little over a year. He said he did everything he could to make Iloilo City peaceful and orderly.
“Naubos ko na tanan nga efforts ko to fight against illegal drugs. We arrested some high-value drug personalities,” he said.
To reportedly replace him at the ICPO in concurrent capacity is PRO-6’s deputy regional director for operations Senior Superintendent Jesus Cambay as concurrent city director.
Cambay, however, said yesterday he had not received an order to head the ICPO, too.
“But if there’s an order, I will follow it,” said Cambay said.
As of this writing, the PRO-6 was still waiting for the order of assignment of Espenido.
“He is very much welcome,” said Gorero, stressing that police officers’ assignments are suited to their ranks.
“We have only one mission here: to eradicate illegal drugs and all forms of illegal activities to have a peaceful place to live in,” said Gorero.
On Monday during the celebration of National Heroes Day, Duterte told Espenido, “Your next assignment is Iloilo, but follow the rules of engagement, the requirements of the performance of duty which you have learned in your Philippine National Police Academy.”
In separate police operations, the mayors of Ozamiz City (Reynaldo Parojinog) and Albuera, Leyte (Rolando Espinosa Sr.) where Espenido was chief of police were killed.
According to Duterte, it was Espenido himself who requested his reassignment to Iloilo.
The President had branded Iloilo the “most shabulized” and “bedrock” of illegal drugs. He also accused Iloilo City’s Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog of being a drug coddler, an allegation that the mayor vehemently denied.
“You asked for the assignment sa Leyte. Namatay ang mayor doon. You asked for another assignment sa Ozamiz, namatay ang mayor doon, si Parojinog. Ngayon, gusto mo sa Iloilo kasi si Mabilog has been identified as a protector. Mayor. Mabuhay kaya siya?” Duterte asked Espenido./PN
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