Ozamiz mayor on alleged drug list to ‘cooperate’ with police chief

Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr. (Photo from the official Ozamiz City website, www.ozamiz.gov.ph)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr., who was earlier tagged by President Duterte as a narco-politician, has said he is ready to work with Chief Insp. Jovie Espenido, who has been named Ozamiz City’s new police chief.

Espenido was the Albuera, Leyte police chief responsible for destroying the drug syndicate led by Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. and his son, Roland “Kerwin” Espinosa Jr.

But Espenido, credited for the arrest of Mayor Espinosa, which eventually led to the arrest of his son, Kerwin, was dragged in the Senate inquiry on the killing of the mayor by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Eastern Visayas while the latter was detained in the Leyte sub-provincial jail in Baybay City. Espenido was allegedly instrumental in the meeting of Kerwin Espinosa and Senator Leila de Lima’s former driver, bodyguard and lover, Ronnie Dayan.

He also got into a verbal skirmish with Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez when he linked the mayor to the Espinosa drug ring.

Aside from Espenido, 15 other police officers from Albuera were transferred to new assignments, said Supt. Surki Sereñas, spokesperson of the Northern Mindanao police.

Parojinog expressed his readiness to work with Espenido as Ozamiz’s new city police director. He preferred the appointment of an outsider like Espenido who could not be influenced by anyone else.

“That way, he can really dig deeper and the truth will come out,” Parojinog said, referring to allegations that he and other local officials had been coddling the illegal drug trade in Ozamiz City.

Parojinog insisted he was not involved in illegal drugs and had in fact been fighting against drug trafficking in his many years as mayor.

He said his support to the police – such as funds for transportation, fuel and other needs – would continue.

Aside from an intensified anti-drug campaign, Parojinog said he expected Espenido to re-implement the police visibility policy, especially in the city’s commercial district to prevent crime.  SFM/rga

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