Espenido: Police validating if Ozamiz cops are involved in drug trade

Ozamiz City Police Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido. (Photo by : Richel V. Umel, Inquirer Mindanao)

The police will still have to validate reports that some of its members were protectors of the Parojinog family, Ozamiz City Police chief Jovie Espenido said on Thursday.

“Wala akong masabi niyan sir, kasi ang nalaman ko lang mga Parojinog, ‘yun sila na grupo. Alam niyo naman na bago lang ako rito, December lang,” Espenido said when asked if there were members of the local city police who protected the family’s illegal drug operations.

(I cannot say anything about that sir because what I know about the Parojinogs is the group. You all know that I just arrived here in December.)

Espenido said that the policemen who were allegedly involved in Parojinog’s illegal drug operations were already tagged for validation to ensure the reports’ authenticity so it would be fair to those involved.

“Hindi naman maganda, in fairness sa kanila, na babanggitin na at saka mag-yes ako, na hindi pa natin na-validate (It’s not right, to be fair to them, to mention their names and confirm their involvement if we haven’t validated it yet),” the police chief said during a televised press briefing.

Espenido earlier warned members of the police force involved in illegal drug operations to just quit their positions if they want to live longer.

READ: Ozamiz police chief: If you’re involved in drugs, resign to live longer

The police chief led the simultaneous raids against the Parojinog clan last month that led to the death of Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog, his wife Susan, brother Octavio Jr. and 12 others.

He was also the Albuera, Leyte police chief when its mayor Rolando Espinosa, who was in prison for illegal drugs trade, was killed inside his cell. JE