Ozamiz mayor welcomes Espenido as new cop chief

Jovie Espenido at a Senate hearing on drugs —RICHARD A. REYES

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr., who had been tagged by President Duterte as a narcopolitician, said he was ready to work with Chief Insp. Jovie Espenido, who had been named as Ozamiz’s new police chief.

Espenido headed the Albuera, Leyte police and figured in the Senate inquiry on the death of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr.

He was allegedly instrumental in the meeting of drug suspect Kerwin Espinosa and Sen. Leila de Lima’s former driver-lover, Ronnie Dayan.

He was also the one who first arrested the elder Espinosa on drug and firearms charges and linked Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez to the Espinosa drug ring.

Aside from Espenido, 15 other police officers from Albuera received a similar transfer order, said Supt. Surki Sereñas, spokesperson of the Northern Mindanao police.

Parojinog said Espenido’s appointment as Ozamiz police chief was a good move since Espenido is not from Ozamiz and could be effective in helping the city government fight the drug trade.

Since Espenido is a stranger in Ozamiz, Parojinog said, the new police chief could not be influenced by anyone in the city involved in drugs.

“He can really dig deeper and the truth will come out,” said Parojinog, referring to allegations about his involvement in drugs.

The mayor said his support to police, like subsidies for transportation and fuel, would continue. —JIGGER JERUSALEM