Espenido on Parojinog guilty verdict: ‘Grabe! Thank God’

WATCH: Ozamiz City Police Major Jovie Espenido’s reaction after Reynaldo Parojinog was found guilty. @inquirerdotnet pic.twitter.com/7POn7BYWbW

— tetch torres-tupas (@T2TupasINQ) May 31, 2019

MANILA, Philippines–“Grabe,” elated Ozamiz City Police Major Jovie Espenido said when asked for his reaction on the Quezon City court’s decision convicting Reynaldo Parojinog Jr.

Parojinog is the first member of a political clan convicted for drugs.

READ: Parojinog Jr. gets life for drug possession

Espenido, who lead the 2017 simultaneous raids at the Parojinog residences, was among the government’s witness and came personally in court for the promulgation.

“Nagpapasalamat ako sa Panginoon talagang tiningnan ang trabaho ng pulis, we received the reward,” Espenido told reporters.

(I thank God because He looked at the police’s work and we received the reward.)

With Parojinog Jr.’s conviction, Espenido said he is hopeful that the other cases against Parojinog Jr.’s sister, former Ozamiz City Vice Mayor Nova Princess Parojinog-Echavez, will have the same ending.

Espenido drew flak for the anti-drug raids he spearheaded.

He was the Albuera police chief when authorities raided the subprovincial jail in Baybay City, where Espinosa was being held for drug charges, and shot dead the mayor and another inmate in an alleged shootout on Nov. 5, 2016.

He was then deployed to Ozamiz as chief of police and on July 30, 2017, the Parojinog patriarch and 14 others, including his wife, were killed in a police drug raid.

“Ganun talaga, we cannot please everybody. As long as we are doing yung pinaka best, hindi ko iniintindi,” Espenido said. (Editor: Jonathan P. Vicente)