Palace defends Espenido’s reassignment to Ozamiz

MANILA, Philippines — Controversial police Superintendent Jovie Espenido had to be reassigned to Ozamiz City so he could testify in the hearings on the drug cases filed against the Parojinogs, Malacañang said yesterday.

Espenido was the police chief of Ozamiz when city mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr., his wife Susan, brother Octavio and sister Mona were killed in an anti-drug operation last year. 

Espenido was assigned in Samar but President Duterte sent him back to Ozamiz last week to supposedly “finish off” the Parojinogs, a clan accused of involvement in the illegal drug trade.

Malacañang clarified that Duterte only wanted to send the Parojinogs to jail.

Earlier reports said a group of Ozamiz professionals were worried that the return of Espenido would hamper the reforms in the city. 

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said there is no reason to revoke Espenido’s reassignment, which took effect on Nov. 29.

Panelo said Espenido’s presence in Ozamiz is needed for the Parojinog cases to move forward.

“Colonel Espenido led the operation against those charged, the Parojinogs. He is one of the witnesses. He has to be there so he could testify,” Panelo said, adding that the cases might be dismissed if Espenido failed to show up in court.

Panelo said the existence of a group supposedly opposing Espenido’s return is dubious.

Reassigning Espenido to Ozamiz is in line with the President’s mandate to protect the public, Panelo said. 

He said the lower crime rate in Ozamiz is part of Espenido’s legacy.

“The people of Ozamiz were the ones who clamored for Espenido’s return,” Panelo said.