Ozamiz police chief Espenido to receive award for role in drug war

Ozamiz City Police Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido inside his office during the interview with Journalists Monday July 31 in the afternoon, 12 hours after the raid. Espenido vows to give justice to the families who are victims of killings, robbery, extortion and drug trafficking in the city.
(Photo by: Richel V. Umel, Inquirer Mindanao)

Chief Insp. Jovie Espenido, Ozamiz City police director, will receive a special award on Wednesday at the Philippine National Police anniversary for his contribution in anti-illegal drugs campaign.

PNP chief Director General Ronaldo “Bato” Dela Rosa said on Monday that the special award has nothing to do with the Ozamiz police raid which killed 16 people last Sunday, including Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog.

“I would like to correct you na baka dahil doon sa pagpatay kay Mayor Parojinog kaya siya mabigyan ng award. Hindi pa nangyari ‘yung sa Ozamiz incident, kasama na si Espenido sa mga awardees for his accomplishments sa anti-drug operations sa Albuera at Ozamiz,” he said.

Espenido was also the police commander in Albuera, Leyte last year when Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. was killed in an alleged shooutout inside a jail in Baybay City.

In the same briefing, Dela Rosa said they have no plans to reassign Espenido from Ozamiz but they may do so if there is a need to target a drug personality in a certain area. JE