(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte has assigned Chief Insp. Jovie Espenido to Iloilo, a place he earlier tagged as the “bedrock” of illegal drugs in the Visayas.
Duterte made the announcement in his speech on National Heroes’ Day.
“Your next assignment is Iloilo,” he said.
The President also awarded Espenido with the Magalong medal for his “extraordinary service..pursuant to an advocacy of the President” during the event in Taguig.
Espenido led the raid that resulted in the death of Ozamiz Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr. and several others in July.
Parojinog was allegedly involved in illegal drug activities.
Espenido was also the police chief when Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa was killed in a raid in his cell, where he was detained for drug charges, among others, in November last year.
In August last year, Duterte called Iloilo the “most shabulized city,” noting that its mayor, Jed Mabilog, was linked to illegal drug operations in the Visayas.
In an interview with Net25’s “Sa Ganang Mamamayan” early this August, only days after Parojinog was killed, Mabilog announced his city was already drug-free.
He also said that he fully supports the administration’s campaign against illegal drugs.