Espenido suspects politicians behind his inclusion in narco list

Jovie Espinido (SunStar Bacolod)
Jovie Espinido (SunStar Bacolod)

“I AM a big threat to them.”

This was stressed by controversial police official Lieutenant Colonel Jovie Espenido as he suspected politicians to be behind in his inclusion in the narco list.

Espenido, who held a press conference at the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) Wednesday, February 19, said that these politicians were affected by his anti-drug campaign in the country.

“I am a big threat for them. Yung na bangga natin sa trabaho since nasa PO1 (police officer 1) pa ako. He’s greedy, maybe that kind of person will run after me. I do believe that person (who included him on the list) ikaw ang guilty,” Espenido said.

Espenido refused to reveal if these politicians are from local or national position and if they are involved in illegal drugs or not.

“Bakit sila takot sa akin hindi naman ako politician. Dapat tigilan na ang pag accuse sa akin. If you are not guilty for what I’ve done on war against illegal drugs, why [do] you run after me? Why [do] you accuse me? Kung hindi ka guilty, relax,” Espenido said.

On February 5, Espenido was relieved as deputy city director for operations of BCPO and head of City Drug Enforcement Unit and was reassigned to the office of the Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, and he is now detailed at Police Regional Office-Western Visayas.

Espenido recalled that in 2016, he was included in the narcolist after he was linked by Kerwin Espinosa, but his name was cleared in 2017 based on the resolution issued by the Police Regional Office-Eastern Visayas.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano earlier confirmed that Espenido is among the 357 policemen on President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug watchlist, also known as narco list.

Espenido said those who are included in the list are now under investigation which already started on his part on Monday.

“I do believe also on the wisdom of chief PNP Gen. Archie Gambao na hindi magsabi ng direct na kasama ba si Espenido o hindi (narco list) sa kanya yon prerogative, and I also acknowledge the bravery, [and] the courage of our Secretary of Interior and Local Government (SILG), nagpakatutuo lang na si Sir Año pinapakita nya na transparent ang government natin. Bakit transparent? Sinabi nya ang tututo na maski si Espenido na katrabaho o tumulong sa war against illegal drugs, he is not exempted from the information that came from the people, so walang exempted,” Espenido said.

Espenido also apologized to Gamboa for speaking out on the issue while the investigation is ongoing.

“Yun nga maghingi ako ng sorry kay Sir Gamboa na nagsalita ako ngayon sorry talaga Sir kasi my name was included na, confirmed by our SILG,” he said.

Espenido also questioned what’s the basis of the list and why he was included in it.

“(Noong) 2017 na exclude na ‘yung name ko, bakit 2020 na andyan pa rin? Sir, wag sana kayo magalit sir, pangalan ko ang nakataya dito sana intindihin nyo rin ako,” he added.

In 2016, Espenido was the chief of police in Albuera, Leyte when the town’s then mayor, Rolando Espinosa, who was tagged as drug suspect, was shot to death inside a jail in Baybay City.

The following year, Espenido was reassigned to Ozamiz City where then mayor Reynaldo Parojinog, who was also linked to illegal drugs, was also killed in police operation.

Meanwhile, Espenido added that there are barangay officials, police officers and personnel from Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Bacolod City who are allegedly involved in illegal drugs.

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