Controversial Espenido assigned to Bacolod police

ILOILO CITY – Police Major Jovie Espenido, the controversial police official linked to the deaths of two alleged narco politicians, has reportedly been assigned to the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO).

Police Lieutenant Joem Malong, spokesperson of Police Regional Office (PRO-6), confirmed this Tuesday at the sidelight of the “fiesta” at Camp Delgado in this city.

Malong showed a copy of the memorandum from Philippine National Police (PNP) national headquarters that states the transfer of Espenido’s assignment from Northern Mindanao to Bacolod City.

Based on his rank, it is most likely that Espenido will become a station commander.

Espenido is only a major and not a police colonel, which is a requirement to become police chief for a highly urbanized city such as Bacolod.

Earlier this year, President Rodrigo Duterte fired then Bacolod police chief Francis Ebreo and four other cops for allegedly protecting elements of the illegal drug trade.

Espenido has also been handpicked by Duterte to become Iloilo City police chief, but the assignment did not materialize because Espenido only has a rank of major. This was the time when Duterte verbally attacked then mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, who he accused of being engaged in the illegal drug trade.

To recall, Espenido led police operations that killed mayors Rolando Espinosa Sr. of Albuera, Leyte and Reynaldo Parojinog of Ozamiz City. Both mayors were on the President’s list of drug protectors.