Jovie Espenido —SCREENGRAB FROM HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES VIDEO
MANILA, Philippines — Col. Jovie Espenido, a central figure in the Duterte administration’s drug war, has clarified his claim that the Philippine National Police (PNP) is the “largest organized crime group in the country,” saying he just wants to remind the police force.
Espenido also apologized to the PNP during the fifth House quad committee hearing on Thursday.
“Nais ko pong linawin ang aking naging pahayag sa quad committee kung saan sinabi ko na ang PNP ang pinakamalaking sindicato ng krimen sa ating bansa … Humihingi ako ng paumanhin, kung ang aking pahayag ay nagdulot ng kontrobersiya dahil sa maling interpretasyon,” he said.
(I would like to clarify my statement to the quad committee where I said that the PNP is the biggest crime syndicate in our country. I apologize if my statement caused controversy due to misinterpretation.)
“Ang layunin ko sa pag-testigo sa harap ng Kongreso ay hindi upang ilagay sa kahihiyan ang organisasyon, kundi ipaalala sa mga nagsisilbi, mga opisyal at mga hindi opisyal, ang kanilang sinumpaang tungkulin na maglingkod na may sigasig, dignidad, at integridad,” he explained.
(My purpose in testifying before Congress is not to embarrass the organization, but to remind those who serve, officers and non-officers, of their sworn duty to serve with zeal, dignity, and integrity.)
However, the PNP said it was saddened by Espenido’s statement during the House hearing last August 28.
“It casts a shadow over the integrity and dedication of countless men and women in uniform who have sworn to serve and protect the Filipino people,” the PNP added.
READ: PNP ‘sad’ over ‘largest organized crime group’ tag
Espenido explained it was not his intention to taint the integrity of the police organization.
“Ayon sa aking paglilinaw, sa panahon ng aking pagtestigo sa nasabing pagdinig, ang tinutukoy ko ay ang mga kasapi nito na nang-abuso sa kanilang mga awtoridad at impluwensiya sa anyo ng pagpapatupad ng batas na nagbibigay-daan sa patuloy na paglaganap ng droga sa bansa, na humahadlang sa pag-unlad ng ating bansa at sumisira sa tiwala ng publiko sa ating mga nakasuot ng uniporme,” he said.
(During my testimony in the said hearing, I was referring to its members who abused their authority and influence in the form of law enforcement and allowed the proliferation of illegal drugs in the country, which hindered the development of our country and destroyed public trust in our uniformed officers.)
During the Duterte administration’s drug war, Espenido was the police chief of Albuera town in Leyte.
The drug war claimed the lives of at least 6,000 individuals, according to official government data.
However, human rights watchdogs and the International Criminal Court estimated the death toll to be at 12,000 to 30,000 from 2016 to 2019 alone.
To date, only three policemen have been found guilty of drug war-related murder.