BACOLOD CITY – Government drug war poster boy Police Lt. Col. Jovie Espenido said he has nothing to do with the drug-related killings here.
Espenido, former head of the City Drug Enforcement Unit before he was recently relieved by the Philippine National Police, was linked to the killings here because of his record in the drug war, particularly when he was assigned in Ozamiz City and Albuera, Leyte.
“Maraming patayan sa Bacolod, kagagawan ko? Grabe sila. Ako na nga may problema. Isa lang ang amo ko. Ang Panginoon lang talaga, dependent ako kay God,” he said.
Espenido said those persons responsible for the killings are not exempted from the consequences from God. “I have conscience and I am pro-life,” he added.
“Wala tayong style na hoodlum-hoodlum. May Panginoon na nakatingin. Huwag magdesisyon na si Espenido talaga ang pumatay ng tao. Grabe naman kayo. May mga kapitbahay kayo na pumapatay tapos ako ituro ninyo?” he said.
Espenido said he entered the police service without thinking of getting any revenge.
He said that policemen are not criminals but protectors of the people, adding that they always abide to the rule of law.
Some local government officials have expressed concern over the unsolved cases here.
The Bacolod City Police Office has recorded six-drug related killings, including the death of a village councilman and a former police officer since January this year. But the BCPO assured that they do not neglect them and that they continue to investigate all the cases.
Last year, President Duterte ordered Espenido to be assigned here and be aggressive against drug personalities, since he considers Bacolod with a serious drug problem.
Following his assignment here in October 2019, people assumed that it will be a bloody drug war, considering his record in the anti-illegal drug campaign. But the controversial police officer consistently refuted the assumptions of the people, stressing he does not intend to kill anybody unless there is already danger in the part of the police operatives during legitimate operations.
“I am not a police officer of Digong, but ng sambayanang Pilipino. Ang police 56 years, ang president six years lang. Tayo mag-analyze,” he said.
“It may happen na mabaril ko ang tao dahil part iyon na danger sa life ko. I work hard with my conscience and for the lives of my comrades to defend ourselves na hindi din kami mamatay,” he said.
He said if there’s violation committed during police operations, there is a department in the police organization that conducts motu propio investigation.
“Kung patayin natin drug suspects it will stop right there and then na hindi na tayo makakuha ng information,” he said.
“I do believe na magsasalita ‘yan drug suspect ng totoo kung mahuli ko, kung patayin ko siya, ma erase na iyong drugs? Ang buhay continuous iyan,” he said, claiming he is working in relation to the rule of law.
“We should do our part na maging totoo, may epekto ito pag hindi natin gawin ang mabuti sa trabaho. Mapapahiya ang gobyerno,” he said. (Glazyl Masculino)
