MEET THE PRESS. Lt. Col. Jovie Espenido (right) talks to reporters during a press conference at the Bacolod City Police headquarters on Wednesday (Feb. 19, 2020). He then left for Iloilo City to report to the Police Regional Office 6 (Western Visayas) in Camp Martin Delgado, where he has been detailed while undergoing an adjudication process. (PNA photo by Nanette L. Guadalquiver)
BACOLOD CITY – Lt. Col. Jovie Espenido has welcomed the due process granted by Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, Gen. Archie Gamboa, to policemen who are on President Rodrigo Duterte’s latest drug watch list, including him.
At the same time, the embattled police officer also apologized to his superiors for expressing his sentiments before the media in the light of recent developments.
“I appreciate the move of the Chief PNP, that within one month, those on the list must be adjudicated to determine whether the allegations are true,” Espenido said in a press conference at the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) on Wednesday.
He said the check on his lifestyle has already begun earlier this week.
Espenido, who is the former deputy city director for operations, told reporters that he dropped by the Bacolod Police headquarters to retrieve his personal belongings since he left without a suitcase when he learned about his February 5 relief order in the afternoon of February 7.
This was after Gamboa ordered an investigation into the alleged involvement of some 357 policemen in the illegal drug trade.
The special order directed Espenido to immediately report to the Office of the PNP Chief, only more than two weeks after he started his concurrent assignment as chief of the City Drug Enforcement Unit.
Espenido said that after the press conference, he was leaving for Iloilo City to report to the Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 (Western Visayas) headquarters in Camp Martin Delgado, where he has been detailed while undergoing the adjudication process.
While talking to reporters, the celebrated police officer in the administration’s war against drugs quoted Bible verses to emphasize that he trusts God to guide him in the battle he is facing.
Espenido, credited for dismantling the Parohinog drug group in Ozamiz City before he was assigned to Bacolod City, said the truth will set him free as he declared he can never be a part of a drug syndicate based on his simple lifestyle, and because he owes his rank and position as a police officer to God.
“I am not guilty or whatever word you want to use. Let God judge us. We cannot hide anything from God. As (a) police officer, I am not perfect,” he added.
Espenido said when it was confirmed by Interior Secretary Eduardo Año that he was on the President’s drug watch list, he felt the need to protect his name.
“Kaya nga nanghihingi ako ng sorry sa mga officers ko na ako nagsalita ngayon. Intindihin nyo naman ako, Sir. Intindihin nyo naman ako na pangalan ko na ang nakataya. Indi naman ako nagsabi na ang PNP masama. Ang nandiyan lang sa PNP siguro na humahawak, na nagkamali (I apologize to my senior officers for speaking before the media. Please understand Sir that my name is at stake here. I’m not saying that the PNP is bad, only that maybe there are those in the PNP who made an error),” he said.
Espenido denied that he was rebellious but said he believes the PNP itself should accept the truth to correct the mistakes committed.
“I do believe that I am never alone. I have my God who gives me courage para matuloy ang trabaho at makatulong tayo sa Presidente natin (so we can continue doing our job and help the President),” he added. (PNA)
