Palace: ‘No compelling reason to revoke’ Espenido’s return to Ozamiz

Chief Insp. Jovie Espenido (Photo by RICHEL V. UMEL / Inquirer Mindanao)

Malacañang Palace on Saturday said it found no “compelling reason” to revoke the reassignment of Chief Insp. Jovie Espenido in Ozamiz City in Misamis Occidental province.

“The Palace finds no compelling reason to revoke the reassignment order of PNP Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido, which took effect last November 29,” presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

Panelo made the statement after Espenido received a word that President Rodrigo Duterte wanted him to return to Ozamiz City, where as a police chief, he led antidrug operations, including, the raid that resulted in the killing of Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog and 14 others in July last year.

READ: Duterte orders Espenido return to Ozamiz City

Malacañang added that the Philippine National Police (PNP) had the authority to decide on the strategies for curbing criminality.

“With its extensive database, the Philippine National Police is in the best position to decide on which stategies are best to undertake in stopping criminality for each locality,” Panelo said.

Malacañang also said Espenido’s recall was needed because of his successful drug operations, noting the drug cases filed against the Parojinogs.

“Moreover, Chief Inspector Espenido’s recall is necessitated by the successful prosecution of the drug cases filed in court against the Parojinogs as he led the police operations against the illegal drugs in Ozamiz,” Panelo said. /atm