MANILA – Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary Eduardo Año confirmed the inclusion of “war on drugs” poster boy Lieutenant Colonel Jovie Espenido in the government’s “narco list.”
“Yes, that’s true. He will undergo validation and possible investigation,” Año said.
However, President Rodrigo Duterte believed Espenido’s inclusion in the list was just “black propaganda.”
According to Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, Espenido still enjoyed the trust of President Duterte and the country’s chief executive believed the cop was “clean.”
“There appears to be a black propaganda against Lieutenant Colonel Espenido to besmirch his reputation and to derail the President’s unrelenting campaign against illegal drugs,” Panelo said.
On Wednesday, various reports surfaced that Espenido was relieved from his post as Bacolod City police deputy director for operations due to his inclusion in the governments “narco list.”
“PRRD (initial of President Duterte) believes the reports were untrue,” said Panelo.
On Thursday, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Archie Gamboa refuse d to answer questions regarding Espenido and called the attention of a writer of online news site Rappler writer who first broke the story.
“I will not answer that question,” Gamboa said. “Ang sinasabi ko naman sa inyo respect our (request). Nakiusap ako na huwag na sana nating tignan ‘yung mga personalities, and you know the intention.”
The PNP earlier revealed that 357 policemen were under investigation for their alleged involvement in illegal drugs. Fifteen availed themselves of optional retirement while 43 others had gone AWOL (absence without leave).
Espenido was the police chief of Albuera, Leyte when the town’s then mayor Rolando Espinosa, a drug suspect, was shot dead inside his jail cell in 2016 in a police operation to serve a search warrant.
As police chief in Ozamiz City in 2017, a series of drug operations led to the death of then Mayor Reynaldo “Aldong” Parojinog and 15 others who were also linked to illegal drugs.
Espenido was removed from Bacolod City some two weeks after describing the metro as “shabulized”.
“Panay ang huli ng pulis…Marami palang drugs,” said Espenido.
Aside from being the deputy director for operations of the Bacolod City Police Office, Espenido also headed the City Drug Enforcement Unit – for only three months since October 2019 when he was assigned to Bacolod City.
Even as Espenido tagged Bacolod City “shabulized”, he expressed confidence that “everything has an end.”
“Mabenta daw dito…very easy magbili ng drugs. Tingnan natin kung hanggang kailan,” said Espenido.
He urged leaders and members of various drug groups to stop their illegal activities, present themselves at the BCPO and help the city police make Bacolod drug-free.
He mentioned the Tolentino, Ramos, Cuadra, and Camaria groups but these mostly operate in Negros Occidental./PN
