Espenido’s next stop: Iloilo City

ILOILO CITY, Philippines – The police officer who led a deadly drug raid in Ozamiz City that left mayor Reynaldo Parojinog and several others dead has been granted his wish by President Duterte to be transferred to this city, whose mayor is also being linked to drugs.

In remarks at the National Heroes Day rites at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, President Duterte announced he was granting Chief Insp. Jovie Espenido’s request to be transferred to Iloilo City for an unspecified position.

“You asked for assignment sa Ozamiz, namatay ang mayor doon. Ngayon gusto mo sa Iloilo, kasi si Mabilog (the mayor there died. Now you want Iloilo because of Mabilog),” Duterte said, apparently referring to Mayor Patrick Mabilog.

Supt. Gilbert Gorero, spokesman for the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6), said they are still awaiting an official order from the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters at Camp Crame for Espenido’s reassignment.

PNP chief Director General Rolando dela Rosa vowed to immediately issue an official order for Espenido’s transfer.

“We welcome any officer who will be assigned in Western Visayas,” Gorero said. PRO-6 director Chief Supt. Cesar Hawthorne Binag heads PRO-6.

Duterte’s decision, according to some observers, contradicted his statement last Aug. 21 that Iloilo’s drug situation has improved with the death of suspected drug lords Melvin Odicta Sr. and his wife Meriam in August last year.

Duterte had accused the Odicta couple and the Parojinogs of supplying illegal drugs to Eastern Visayas and Western Visayas, respectively.

“Iloilo was the hotbed, ngayon medyo wala na (not anymore),” Duterte said in a press conference.

Mabilog is included in the President’s list of local chief executives allegedly involved in illegal drugs, an allegation the mayor has strongly denied.

Also included in the list were Iloilo mayors Mariano Malones of Maasin, Alex Centena of Calinog and Siegfredo Betita of Carles. The three have also denied the accusation.

Duterte had labeled Iloilo as “most shabulized” and “bedrock of drugs,” a “transshipment point” of illegal drugs in the Visayas.

A day after Duterte’s pronouncement that Iloilo’s drug problem had lessened, Mabilog thanked him “for at least recognizing the efforts being done here in the city of Iloilo in his campaign and war against illegal drugs.”

Trail of blood

Espenido was police chief of Albuera, Leyte when its mayor, Rolando Espinosa Sr. was jailed over his supposed ties with drug syndicates.

Espinosa was later killed inside his cell in Baybay City, Leyte in November last year allegedly after resisting a search warrant.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Eastern Visayas claimed that Espinosa fired at officers, prompting them to retaliate. But the National Bureau of Investigation disputed this, saying the mayor was executed and that there was “criminal intent and a conspiracy” involved in his death.

Espenido was transferred to Ozamiz City last December, a month after the death of Espinosa. Seven months after Espenido assumed as Ozamiz City police chief, law enforcers conducted an anti-drug raid that left Parojinog, his wife Susan and 13 other people dead.

Both Espinosa and Parojinog were in the list of local executives believed to be protectors of drug syndicates.

“He (Espenido) is a dedicated man. He knows his law. So, he should replicate his exploits in other parts of the country. If he wants to be assigned in Iloilo, I will assign him there,” Duterte said.

Duterte warned Mabilog against coddling drug lords, saying those into the narcotics trade are courting death.

“Well, I’ll tell you again, mayor. Dinadawit ka (you are being tagged). For the longest time, updated list, you are there. Eh sa totoo lang, ngayon pang wala na nangyari, baka gusto mo nang tapusin ang connection mo (Now that nothing is happening yet, you might want to cut clean from your connections),” the President said.

“To the corrupt, you are not contented with your salaries. Leave the service. Be drug lords. You will earn billions. But that will also lead to your death,” he added.

Duterte vowed to support Espenido’s campaign against illegal drugs in Iloilo and even expressed readiness to go to jail with him.

“They will blame me even if you are the one who shot them. My name will be published everywhere,” the President said.

“But if you do the country a favor, I will support you… then we’ll all go to jail, do not worry. Just follow the rules of engagement, the requirements of the performance of duty,” he added.

Transfer welcomed

Mabilog said he welcomes Espenido’s new assignment and expressed hope the police official would really help rid the city government of drug offenders.

“Maybe, we would learn something from his experiences in fighting illegal drugs, especially in pinpointing drug players and flushing them out of their hiding places,” he said in the local dialect.

“In the city of Iloilo, I will share with him our own strategies and compare notes on how to win this war at the barangay level,” he added.

“I look forward to working side by side with Chief Inspector Espenido as the President’s point man in the battle against illegal drugs in Iloilo, both city and province,” Mabilog added.

Iloilo officials had no idea Espenido would be assigned to the province. Even PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa, who was in Iloilo City on Aug. 14 for the 116th Police Service Anniversary celebration of PRO-6, said he had no plan of transferring Espenido to Iloilo.

“There’s a lot to fix in Ozamiz City. He should stay there,” Dela Rosa said.

In recent interviews, Espenido made clear he wanted Iloilo City for his next assignment.

Dela Rosa said he had thought Espenido was not very serious about moving to Iloilo City.

“Wala, light na usapan lang, biro-biruan na usapan na gusto nya doon na ganoon,” he said.

“ASAP, I will issue the order and as soon as he is ready he can go to Iloilo City. He is still here in Manila. He will have the time to transfer his things,” he said. “He’s not taking his vacation in Manila, he’s taking it in Iloilo. It’s beautiful there.”

Espenido received from President Duterte a Magalong award for his outstanding performance in the campaign against illegal drugs. Espenido was also an awardee during the 116th Police Service Anniversary two weeks ago.

Dela Rosa also stressed that Mabilog should not worry about Espenido’s new assignment – that is if the mayor is not doing anything wrong. “The Odictas are dead anyway,” he said.

Alarming

For Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, however, Espenido’s reassignment was a “cause for concern,” considering his previous record as enforcer of Duterte’s bloody war on drugs.

“The posting of Espenido is a prerogative of the President, and the peace loving, cultured and law abiding Ilongos welcome him to Iloilo City,” Drilon said in a text message to reporters.

“Having said that, the assignment to Iloilo City of Espenido, nevertheless, is a cause of concern,” he said. Drilon, who is from Iloilo, is reportedly a cousin of Mabilog. – Alexis Romero, Paolo Romero, Cecille Suerte Felipe