PNP in best position to decide on Espenido’s reassignment: Palace

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo made this remark after a certain group called the Concerned Ozamiz Professionals (COP) opposed Espenido’s reassignment. (File Photo: Office of the Presidential Spokesperson/Facebook)

MANILA — Malacañang on Saturday said there is no reason to revoke the reassignment of Chief Insp. Jovie Espenido to Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo made this remark after a certain group called the Concerned Ozamiz Professionals (COP) opposed Espenido’s reassignment.

Panelo said the Palace found the existence of the group “questionable” and noted that members could be drug syndicate supporters.

“The Palace finds no compelling reason to revoke the reassignment order of PNP Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido, which took effect last November 29, on account of the opposing call by this certain group called the Concerned Ozamiz Professionals (COP), whose existence is questionable, and if it does exist is obviously supporters of the drug syndicate,” Panelo said in a press statement.

Panelo stressed that the PNP is in the best position to decide on the reassignment of its personnel.

“With its extensive database, the Philippine National Police is in the best position to decide on which strategies are best to undertake in stopping criminality for each locality,” Panelo said.

Panelo also pointed out that Espenido’s appointment is “necessitated” by successfully leading the police operations involving Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog and 14 others linked to illegal drugs.

“Chief Inspector Espenido’s recall is necessitated by the successful prosecution of the drug cases filed in court against the Parojinogs as he led the police operations against the illegal drugs in Ozamis,” Panelo said.

“Even assuming that the incidence of crimes in Ozamiz has decreased, this can be attributable to the relentless drive of Espenido against criminal elements, and the more reason should he be taken back as police chief, so he could continue his determined drive to rid Ozamiz City of the illegal drug operators,” he added.

On Thursday (Nov. 29), Espenido was reassigned back to Ozamiz City after a brief stint in Calbayog City, Samar.

Philippine National Police chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said Espenido was relieved from Police Regional Office (PRO) 8 and reassigned to PRO 10 effective on Thursday.

Espenido’s reassignment came after President Rodrigo R. Duterte, in a speech in Ozamiz City, said he wanted him back in the city.

Espenido was the chief of police in Albuera, Leyte when then Mayor Rolando Espinosa, a drug suspect, was shot dead inside the sub-provincial jail in Baybay City in 2016.

He was reassigned to Ozamiz City more than a year after Parojinog and 14 others linked to illegal drugs were killed in a shootout in a pre-dawn raid.