CHIEF Inspector Jovie Espenido is now the chief of police of Virac in Catanduanes, Philippine National Police Director General Oscar Albayalde confirmed on Monday, October 15.
Espenido's installation as the new chief of Virac is effective October 11, and his transfer from Ozamiz City is due to his pending promotion and not for anything else, said Albayalde.
“That is part of his career. Meron siyang pending promotion, he should be promoted. Ang pwesto na pupuntahan niya is for superintendent, so chief inspector siya, that is part of his promotion,” he said.
“Espenido is just one, what’s so special about that person? Lahat naman ng pulis nagtatrabaho, hindi lang si Espenido. Kung talagang wala tayong ginagawa na labag sa batas, bakit matatakot? Kahit sino pang maging chief of police, bakit matatakot?” he added.
Espenido made headlines for the killing of mayors included in President Rodrigo Duterte’s narco list.
Espenido was the police chief of Albuera, Leyte, when Mayor Rolando Espinosa was arrested in October 2016, two months after the raid in his house in Albuera that resulted in the recovery of at least P88 million worth of illegal drugs and assorted firearms.
On November 5, Espinosa was killed by Criminal Investigation and Detection Group operatives after he allegedly fought it out during the service of a search warrant in his detention cell in Baybay sub-provincial jail in Leyte.
From Albuera, Espenido was transferred in Ozamiz City and during his stint, Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog was killed in a raid in his residence.
The raid on July 30 also resulted in the killing of Parojinog’s wife and 10 others. Parojinog's son, Reynaldo Jr., and Ozamiz City Vice Mayor Nova Princess Parojinog were arrested.
The Parojinog siblings were charged with violation of Section 11 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act (possession of dangerous drugs) and Section 21 of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act (acquisition or purchase and sale of firearms and ammunition). (SunStar Philippines)