Espenido a noshow in Gomez’s case
TACLOBAN CITY — Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido was a no-show in the hearing of the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) in Tacloban City yesterday morning regarding the case filed against him by Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez.
To recall, Gomez slapped Espenido and two others with an administrative complaint of grave misconduct, grave abuse of authority, dishonesty and conduct unbecoming a police officer for allowing four maximum detention prisoners under the policeman’s custody to roam around Ormoc City, and machinating to impute the mayor in the Espinosa drug syndicate.
The four goons were in Ormoc City on orders of Espenido, in spite of a Court Order to put them in maximum detention.
Two of Espenido’s coaccused were however present in the NAPOLCOM hearing: Chief Insp. Leo Larraga of the Criminal Detection and Investigation Group (CIDG) who is currently assigned to SOCCSARGEN and PO3 Heidi Yutrago.
Gomez's lawyer Alex Avisado, citing the police official's absence, asked NAPOLCOM to waive the right of Espenido to present evidence. The mayor's camp would also be submitting its position paper, and submit the case for resolution.
In a press conference, Avisado said they are asking NAPOLCOM to dismiss Espenido from service, and they are unfazed by Espenido’s “padrino.” They will also be filing more cases against Espenido, he said, until justice is served.
Mayor Gomez, on the other hand, said that he will not stop running after Espenido until his name is vindicated. “I am not only a mayor but also an actor. I have built my reputation for many years and I will not allow one person to destroy it,” he said.
Gomez added that he has been known as a staunch antidrug advocate, and that he has proven it when Ormoc was the first city in Eastern Visayas to be declared “drug-cleared” by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
“Ormoc was previously known as the drug capital of Eastern Visayas. In about a year’s time, I have overturned this image and made it the first city to be declared drugcleared,” he said.