Espenido will be OIC of Iloilo City police: Dela Rosa

August 30, 2017

Philippine National Police Director General Ronald Dela Rosa said Wednesday Chief Inspector Jovie  Espenido, the former chief of police in Albuera and Ozamiz where both mayors were killed in separate instances, was transferred to Iloilo following President Rodrigo Duterte's directive.

"That ( transfer) is already issued. I think yesterday as Officer-In Charge of (Iloilo) because the rank there is for city director but he is just a chief inspector. Senior Superintendent ( rank) is what is needed there so he is just an Officer in Charge", Dela Rosa said in a press conference in Camp Crame.

Espenido led the implementation of a search warrant in the home of Ozamiz mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr. on July 30 that resulted into a gunfight between cops and the side of the mayor which claimed 16 lives.

Espenido was the chief of police in Albuera city where mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr and inmate Raul Yap was killed inside their cell in Baybay City sub-provincial Jail on November 5.

Dela Rosa said  Espenido should pray for the safety of Iloilo Mayor Jed Mabilog after the city mayor said he pray for the safety of the Espenido.

"I will also tell Espenido to pray for the safety of Mayor Mabilog... You mutually pray for each other's safety...so there will be no accident", he said.

Mabilog was included in the updated narco list, Duterte said in a press conference in San Fernando, Pampanga Monday.

Dela Rosa said residents in Ozamiz might launch a people power movement if Espinido will be transferred.

"If Espenido will be reassigned, the people on Ozamiz will have a people power. They don't want Espenido to leave because there is still unfinished business there", he said.

Dela Rosa said he might promote Espinido into a auperintendent. "I have directed DPRM (Directorate for Personnel and Records Management) to look into the records, if he is qualified", he said. Alanna Ambi/ DMS