Ozamiz City group opposing Espenido’s return as top cop

ILIGAN CITY – A group of concerned Ozamiz City professionals is opposing the return of Chief Inspector Jovie R. Espenido as the city’s chief of police.

Concerned Ozamiz Professionals (COP), through its spokesman Darwin A. Aguirre, appealed to President Duterte to assign Espenido somewhere else.

The group said the President must "listen to the real voices of Ozamiznon".

"We, professionals in various fields who practice our craft in and outside Ozamiz, are writing to express our deep concern for chief inspector Jovie R. Espenido to take back the reigns of the City Police station. We are worried that with Espenido back in Ozamiz, the path of change and reform could be hampered," said Aguirre.

The group cited Espenido’s supposed links to Misamis Occidental Representative Henry S. Oaminal.

"We know that you also detest the idea of the police used as an instrument for partisan politics which can happen if Espenido is back in Ozamiz," they said.

The group linked Espenido to cases of corruption, bribery and other illegal activities.

Espenido was Ozamiz City police chief when Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog, his wife and other family members and followers were killed in a police raid last year.

Parojinog has been linked to the illegal drugs trade, which he and his family denied.