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[av_heading heading=’ Bato: Mabilog is now working hard vs drugs; Espenido ICPO OIC only ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY PRINCE GOLEZ
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MANILA – Director General Ronald Dela Rosa of the Philippine National Police has some good words on Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog despite the drug allegations of President Rodrigo Duterte against the Iloilo City chief executive.
“In fairness to the good mayor, nakikita ko rin naman na nagsusumikap siya sa anti-drug campaign sa Iloilo City,” said Dela Rosa during a press conference in Camp Crame yesterday.
Dela Rosa said he preferred Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido to stay put in Ozamiz City as police chief.
Duterte ordered the transfer of Espenido to Iloilo City on Monday. Dela Rosa signed the transfer order the following day but he admitted yesterday being hesitant pulling out the police official from Ozamiz City.
“I prefer him to stay in Ozamiz para matapos ‘yung problema doon kung mamarapatin. Mas maganda nga doon muna siya,” said Dela Rosa.
Just this July 30, 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.
Parojinog was linked by President Duterte to illegal drugs.
“Anyway ‘yung sa sitwasyon sa Iloilo e nakikita ko na inaamin naman ni Mayor Jed Mabilog na napabayaan niya ‘yung problema sa drugs noon, hindi niya na-address but right now, in fairness to the good mayor, nakikita ko rin naman na nagsusumikap siya…,” said Dela Rosa.
In Iloilo City, Espenido’s official designation is officer-in-charge of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO), he clarified.
According to Dela Rosa, Espenido could not be ICPO’s director because the police official does not have the required rank – Senior Superintendent – for such post in a highly-urbanized city.
He also said the people of Ozamiz were protest against Espenido’s transfer.
“Kung tanggalin si Espenido doon e ‘yung mga tao sa Ozamiz magpi-people power daw. Ayaw nilang umalis si Espenido doon dahil meron pa siyang unfinished business,” said Dela Rosa.
According to Duterte, it was Espenido himself who asked for an Iloilo assignment. The President had branded Iloilo the “most shabulized” and “bedrock” of illegal drugs.
But Dela Rosa said, “Mahirap din if they (Ozamiz City) will be left hanging after that incident na hindi pa totally stabilized ‘yung sitwasyon. Tanggalin siya doon, made-demoralize ‘yung mga tao.”
The President announced Espenido’s Iloilo assignment a week after describing the illegal drugs situation in Iloilo as “medyo wala na.”
He described Espenido as a “dedicated man” and knows his law.
“So he should replicate his exploits in other parts of the country. He wants to be assigned in Iloilo, I will assign him there,” said Duterte./PN
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