Malacañang on Saturday defended President Duterte’s decision to reassign Supt. Jovie Espenido back to Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental, saying the police officer’s drive against criminality can keep the city in check.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo made the statement after a group called the Concerned Ozamiz Professionals opposed Duterte’s order for Espenido to return to Ozamiz.
Panelo said that Malacanang sees no reason to not push through with the recall, adding that the opposing group may be supporting the illegal drugs trade.
“The Palace finds no compelling reason to revoke the reassignment order of Supt. Jovie Espenido, which took effect last Nov. 29, on account of the opposing call by this certain group called the Concerned Ozamiz Professionals, whose existence is questionable, and if it does exist, is obviously supporters of the drug syndicate,” he said.
According to Panelo, with its extensive database, the Philippine National Police is in the best position to decide on the best strategies to undertake in stopping criminality for each locality.
He added that Espenido’s recall is necessitated by the successful prosecution of the drug cases filed in court against the Parojinogs. Espenido led the police operations against the clan linked to the illegal drugs trade in Ozamiz last year.
The Palace official also said that even if incidence of crimes and illegal drugs in Ozamiz decreased, this could be because of the dedication of Espenido.
“Even assuming that the incidence of crimes in Ozamiz has decreased, this can be attributable to the relentless drive of Espenido against criminal elements, and the more reason should he be taken back as police chief so he could continue his determined drive to rid Ozamiz of the illegal drug operators,” Panelo said.
In July last year, Ozamiz Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Jr. and 14 others were killed in a series of anti-drug raids led by Espenido. President Duterte ordered the return of the controversial police officer who was transferred to the Catanduanes Provincial Police Office a few months ago from Ozamiz.
“Espenido was successful in ridding the place of drug lords, those who push through drugs. And apparently, since his departure, the drug incidence there increased by leaps and bounds. So the President needs men like Espenido to do the work,” Panelo said, explaining Duterte’s decision to call back Espenido back to Ozamiz City. (Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos)
