Lieutenant Colonel Jovie Espenido, one of 357 cops who were included in President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug list, is not discounting the possibility of being killed.
“Hindi imposible ‘yan. There were so many incidents happened before na ganyan,” Espenido said in a media interview on Thursday, Feb. 20.
“Kaya nga sinasabihin ko ang misis ko na pray lang kayo kasi ‘yan ang weapon,” he added.
Espenido has been detailed at the Police Regional Office (PRO-6) in Iloilo City while undergoing the adjudication process.
“I will be here for one week sa PRO-6. Assigned ako sa office ni PNP (Philippine National Police) chief [General Archie Gamboa] and detailed ako dito,” he said.
The inclusion of Espenido, one of the poster boys of President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody war against illegal drugs, in the list was confirmed by Interior Secretary Eduardo Año.
“Noon tahimik lang ako, hindi ako nagsasalita pero after the confirmation kailangan ko mag-explain,” he said.
“Pangalan ko nakataya. How can I give explanation kung hindi ako magsasalita? Mag-explain ako,” Espenido added.
The relieved police official strongly denied that he is involved in the illegal drug trade.
“Manaig sana ang katotohanan. Continue tayo sa pagdadasal,” Espenido stressed.
He said he is not afraid “because God is with me.”
“Kung sakaling mawala si Espenido, wala na akong magawa. Walang problema. God owns my life,” Espenido told reporters.
“May mangyari man sa akin sana hindi [gawa ng] gobyerno,” he said.
In a press conference in Bacolod City on Wednesday, Feb. 19, Espenido said “greedy” politicians may be behind the inclusion of his name in the narco-list.
“I cannot really pinpoint. But one thing I can tell you — greedy, a greedy kind of person. Number one, politicians talaga,” he said.
“Hindi sana paniwalaan natin ‘yung mga kaibigan natin na politicians na gusto lang siraan ang pulis.”
Espenido was relieved as deputy director for operations of the Bacolod City Police Office. His relief took effect on Feb. 5.IMT
