Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 4) — President Rodrigo Duterte ordered Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido to stay in Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental instead of moving to Iloilo City, the Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief said on Monday.
Director General Ronald Dela Rosa said the PNP recalled the order for Espenido to lead the Iloilo City police as Ozamiz residents want him to stay.
“Si Presidente mismo ang nagbigay ng instruction na huwag na ituloy. May balita pang mag people power ang mga taga Ozamiz. Nagbago ang isip ni Presidente,” he said.
[Translation:The President gave the instruction not to push through with it. There were talks Ozamiz residents were planning to stage a people power. The President changed his mind.]
Dela Rosa added the rank of Espenido as chief inspector was not the reason for the canceled assignment.
Superintendent Gilbert Gorero, PNP Western Visayas spokesperson, earlier explained the position of senior superintendent is required for either the Iloilo City — which is a highly urbanized city — or Iloilo province police chief.
Read: Espenido’s assignment to Iloilo City canceled – regional police director
Duterte on August 28 announced he would assign Espenido to Iloilo. He called Iloilo the “most shabulized” province in the country, and also named Iloilo City Mayor Jed Mabilog in his “narco-list.”
Espenido was former police chief of Albuera, Leyte. Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa, Sr. And Ozamiz Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog were killed in separate police anti-drug operations under Espenido’s watch.
