Espenido promoted in his transfer to Bicol

Controversial police official Jovie Espenido has been promoted to the rank of Superintendent following his transfer to the Bicol Region from Ozamiz City. AP FILE / BULLIT MARQUEZ

Former Ozamiz City police chief Jovie Espenido has been promoted to the rank of Superintendent following his transfer to Region V, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said.

“May order na siya, he is re-assigned sa Region 5, sa Catanduanes, that is part of his career, he has a pending promotion.  ‘Yong pwesto na pupuntahan niya is for Superintendent,” Albayalde said during a press briefing at Camp Crame  on Monday.

Espenido’s transfer to the Catanduanes Provincial Police Office was made official through a memorandum signed by PNP Directorate for Personnel and Records Management Director Lyndon Cubos on October 11, upon instructions from Albayalde.

The controversial official spent 21 months in Ozamiz City in Misamis Occidental, where he shot to fame after leading a bloody campaign against illegal drugs.

In September, the Department of Justice recommended the filing of cases against Espenido and three others for the June 2017 Ozamiz raid, where six people were killed.

He also led the raid on the houses of former Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr.’s family in July 2017.  Parojinog was killed in that operation.

READ: DOJ recommends filing of cases vs Espenido, 3 others over bloody Ozamiz raid / Espenido can expect legal support from PNP, says spokesperson / Controversial police officer moved to Catanduanes