CONTROVERSIAL Police Lieutenant Colonel Jovie Espenido will face administrative charges for violating the gag order issued by Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa.
This is relative to the press conference held by Espenido at the Bacolod City Police Office after he was relieved as deputy director for operations in the city.
The findings were released by Police Regional Office (PRO)-Western Visayas Director Rene Pamuspusan in a press conference Monday, March 2, after the assessment made by investigators from the Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division.
Pamuspusan said Espenido will be placed on summary hearing procedure following the findings.
Espenido and several other police officers who have been named of having alleged drug links were earlier given the order by Gamboa to remain silent.
During that press conference at the BCPO, Espenido expressed suspicion that an "influential politician" may be responsible for his inclusion on the reported drugs watchlist. He said it is "impossible" for another police officer to forward his name because they share the same mission of eliminating illegal drug activities in the country.
"I cannot really pinpoint but one thing I can tell you -- greedy, a greedy kind of person," he said.
In response to Pamuspusan's report, Espenido said that he is only defending his dignity when he decided to face the local media in Bacolod City.
He also confirmed that he received an order from the PRO-Western Visayas director to submit an explanation as to why he violated Gamboa's gag order.
Espenido is currently assigned under the PRO-Western Visayas Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit.