President Duterte won’t allow any harm inflicted on anyone, including Police Lt. Col. Jovie Espenido, Malacanang said yesterday, amid reports on the threats to his life.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said Espenido may also request for additional protective security if he fears for his safety.
“If that is the fear of Col. Espenido, we cannot stop him from entertaining such apprehension but the President will not allow anyone to be hurt or harmed outside what is allowed by the law, outside of legal processes, or methods sanctioned by law,” he said.
“If Col. Espenido would want any protective measure from the government, then he can so request just like any other netizen,” he added.
Espenido had earlier dismissed the drug allegations against him, saying his inclusion in the drug watch list was a result of failure of intelligence gathering.
With his named dragged in the drug menace, he reportedly claimed that the government could run after him and kill him.
Panelo, in his remarks yesterday, said Espenido continues to enjoy the trust and confidence of the President.
The President has refused to believe the allegations against Espenido, insisting that the cop is clean. The Palace said Espenido may even be a victim of black propaganda by his enemies amid his aggressive campaign against the illegal drugs trade.
Espenido gained popularity after two suspected narcopoliticians ended up dead during his stint as police chief in Albuera, Leyte and Ozamiz City.
Espenido has again defied the gag order imposed on him by Philippine National Police chief Police Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa.
“This is my right. I have a personal right. We live in a democracy,” Espino said in Camp Delgado, the PNP Western Visayas headquarters in Iloilo City.
Espenido, who was sacked as deputy police director for operations of Bacolod City Police Office following alleged involvement in the illegal drugs trade, is ready to face the consequences of speaking up publicly.
“If this is the means I will get dismissed from the service, so be it,” said a defiant Espenido, who has been reassigned to the Police Regional Office 6 since Tuesday afternoon.
Espenido reiterated that there’s a 90 percent chance the government will kill him.
He has been island hopping in the Visayas this week talking to the media. He was previously in Cebu City and Bacolod City, where he both granted interviews. (Genalyn Kabiling with Tara Yap)