Police officer who led raids on Espinosa, Parojinog to get award

August 7, 2017

Ozamiz City police chief  Senior Inspector Jovie Espenido will receive an special award  on August 9 for his successful leadership on anti-illegal drugs campaign where two mayors linked in illegal drugs died.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Ronald Dela Rosa announced in a press conference Monday  in Camp Crame Espenido will be awarded for his anti-illegal drugs campaign on the 116th PNP service anniversary on Wednesday.

"Significantly the drug activities dropped in Ozamiz because of his leadership in the Ozamiz city police station", Dela Rosa said.

He said Espinido was in the list of awardees before the incident in Ozamiz city where City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr.  and 15 persons were killed as police implemented a search warrant on to find if Parojinog had illegal guns and ammunition.

"The Ozamiz incident has not happened yet ( but) Espenido is already in the list of awardees for his accomplishments in the anti-drug operations in Albuera and Ozamiz", he said.

Dela Rosa said Kerwin Espinosa, son of the late Albuera Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. who was killed inside his cell on November 5, 2016, has taken back his statement saying Espenido received money from him.

"When Kerwin returned to PDEG (Philippine National Police-Drug Enforcement Group), before AIDG (PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Group) I went to him there and I really confronted him. We had a heart-to-heart talk...He said ‘sir I said that because of my anger and in reality sir Espenido is not accepting’", he said.

Espenido was chief of police in Albuera when the elder Espinosa and inmate Raul Yap were killed during the serving of search warrant in their cell in Baybay City sub-provincial Jail.

Dela Rosa said Espenido never received money, according to Espinosa.

"He texted him to go so he can give him money but the answer of Espenido are bible verses which is an indication that he does not want to be corrupted, he really does not want to accept that is why he said he (Espenido) never received ( money)"

He said they will validate which area can Espenido be transferred.

"There are many who requested to transfer him there but we can't just do that. Let us finish the Ozamiz ( case) first", Dela Rosa said. Alanna Ambi/ DMS