Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Ronald M. dela Rosa said on Monday that controversial Chief Insp. Jovie Espenido is now a sought-after official in the campaign against illegal drugs, with local officials asking for his assignment in their areas.
Espenido is the chief of the Ozamiz City Police that led the operations last week, which resulted in the death of Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr. and 14 others, including other members of Parojinog’s family.
Dela Rosa said he would not reassign the officer yet, despite calls from local officials for his reassignment in their areas.
“We will determine who is the next target, then we can transfer him. Just wait, we need to validate first as to where he can be transferred,” dela Rosa said.
“Many are requesting where he should be assigned but…we should finish Ozamiz first. There are many who are requesting for him,” he added.
Espenido is among the awardee at tomorrow’s celebration for the anniversary of the police service.
Dela Rosa said Espenido will be receiving a special award for his accomplishments under the PNP’s anti-illegal drugs campaign.
The chief PNP, however, stressed that Espenido was already chosen even before the raid against the Parojinogs was conducted.
“The Ozamiz incident is yet to happen when Espenido was chosen among the awardees for his accomplishments in the antidrugs operations in Albuera and Ozamiz. Drug activities in Ozamiz significantly dropped during his leadership of the Ozamiz City Police Station,” dela Rosa said.
The PNP chief also called on the Parojinog camp to file its formal complaint following its claims that members of the raiding team fabricated and planted evidence during the operation.
“We must be neutral, so let it go to the proper courts so that we will know because based on the findings of Soco [Scene of the Crime Operatives] scientific evidence versus testimonial evidence. The PNP holds the scientific evidence through Soco,” dela Rosa said.
A man claiming he was a survivor during the raid said that policemen manipulated the crime scene and intentionally killed the victims.
“A companion of the mayor has his testimony…what do you expect? He is from the camp of the Parojinog, so he will surely side with them,” dela Rosa said.