Philippine National Police chief, Director General Oscar Albayalde, on Saturday said Chief Insp. Jovie Espenido had an unfinished business in Ozamiz City, Misamis Oriental.
Explaining Espenido’s recall order, Albayalde said he wants Espenido to handle and follow up all the cases filed against high-profile personalities, including the Parojinog political clan which was tagged in various illegal drug activities.
“The main factor (of his reassignment) is for him to handle all the cases they have filed because they were the arresting officers. What we are wary of is that these cases might be dismissed when he was removed there,” Albayalde said in Filipino over a radio interview at DZMM.
Last Wednesday, President Duterte ordered the return of the controversial drug war cop to Ozamiz City.
“That night, when the Commander-in-Chief talked to me, I immediately issued an order to have him (Espenido) reassigned. The President said it’s the people who wished to have him back, and of course, the authority of his order – unfinished business,” Albayalde narrated.
In an order dated Thursday, Espenido was relieved as the chief of police of Virac in Catanduanes and transferred to the Police Regional Office 10.
The PNP chief admitted that the reassignment of Espenido was a special case since he said ordinary politicians or other “influential persons” cannot do that.
“In Espenido’s case, the order came from the President. He has all the authority to give that directive. Being the Commander-in-Chief, we need to follow his orders,” Albayalde explained. “However, for other politicians or whoever influential persons who make similar request, it should be deliberated if what they want has a basis,” he added.
As Ozamiz police chief, Espenido led anti-drug illegal operations, including the one that killed then Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog and 15 others in July last year. His daughter, former Vice Mayor Nova Princess, and son Reynaldo Jr., are both detained over illegal drug charges.
According to Espenido, other members of the Parojinog clan are still operating illegal activities in the city, and threatening witnesses to back out of the case. (Maartin Sadongdong)
