Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Wednesday, Oct. 9, said the problem of illegal drugs in Bacolod City is worse than that in Iloilo City.
“We were shocked na mas malakas ang drugs dito (Bacolod),” he said in an interview with IMT NEWS.
Panelo confirmed the reassignment of controversial Police Major Jovie Espenido to Bacolod City.
“He is assigned here (Bacolod),” he said.
According to Panelo, it was President Rodrigo Duterte himself who ordered to transfer Espenido to Bacolod.
“Siya (Duterte) nga nagtransfer dito,” he said.
But why not in Iloilo City, which President Rodrigo Duterte labeled as the “most shabulized” and “bedrock of illegal drugs”?
“Mas grabi daw dito (Bacolod).Marami daw involved (in illegal drug activities) dito,” said Panelo.
In August 2017, Duterte ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to reassign Espenido from Ozamiz City to Iloilo City.
But the President recalled his order. According to the Police Regional Office (PRO-6), Espenido was not qualified to become police director of either Iloilo City or the province.
Earlier, Police Brigadier General Rene Pamuspusan, Police Regional Office (PRO-6) director, disclosed that Espenido’s transfer to Western Visayas took effect on Friday last week, Oct. 4.
“There’s no definite position for him. He could be assigned as BCPO command staff,” he said.
Espenido was the chief of police in Albuera, Leyte when then-mayor Rolando Espinosa was shot dead inside his jail in 2016.
In 2017, Espenido was transferred to Ozamiz City. Then-Mayor Reynaldo “Aldong” Parojinog, his wife Susan and 13 others were confirmed killed in simultaneous drug raids.IMT
