Espenido assigned to Western Visayas

ILOILO CITY –– Controversial police official Major Jovie Espenido has been assigned to Western Visayas and will be designated to a still undetermined post in Bacolod City, a police spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday.

Major Joem Malong, spokesperson of the Philippine National Police in Western Visayas, said Espenido, Ozamiz City police chief, was ordered to report to the Police Regional Office 6 headquarters in Iloilo City effective October 4.

But Malong said Espenido had requested to report at a later date because the turn-over ceremony for his current post is scheduled today (Tuesday).

Malong said Espenido’s rank does not qualify him to head to the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) as this requires a police officer holding the rank of Colonel or two levels higher than Espenido’s rank.

The BCPO will determine his designation, which includes posts as station commander or a staff position in the city police office.

Espenido became controversial because of his record of assignment where alleged drug lords were killed in police operations, including Mayor Rolando Espinosa in Albuera town in Leyte, and Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog, and 15 others in Ozamiz City.

In August last year, Espenido was assigned as chief of the Iloilo City Police Office but the order of his assignment was later revoked amid questions that hounded his planned designation as his rank was two levels lower than the required rank./lzb