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Duterte’s remark on Mabilog ‘a cause of concern’ for Drilon


President Rodrigo Duterte’s remark on Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog is a “cause of concern” for the latter’s second cousin, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon.

Sought for comment on Ozamiz City police head Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido’s impending new assignment to Iloilo City, Drilon, in a text message, said: “The peace-loving, cultured, and law-abiding Ilonggos welcome Espenido to the City.”

When asked about Duterte’s remarks on Mabilog, the senator replied: “It is a cause of concern.”

n a separate text message, Senator Panfilo Lacson said he trusts that Espenido “knows what to do.”

Lacson said he knew Espenido as a “focused, diligent and upright” cop when he was still working under him at the defunct Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force or PAOCTF.

“While there’s a load of doublespeak in the President’s marching order, ultimately, it is on Espenido’s account and responsibility to uphold the rule of law and follow the rules of engagement in his new place of assignment,” the senator and former PNP chief said.

New assignment

During the National Heroes Day commemoration at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, Duterte announced Espenido’s new assignment, saying it was the cop who asked for it.

“Ngayon, gusto mo sa Iloilo, kasi si Mabilog has been identified as a protector. Mayor. Mabuhay kaya siya?” Duterte said.

"Gusto ko lang tanungin kasi ako naman ang pagbibintangan. Ikaw nga ang nagbaril diyan tapos ako ang napa-publish kung saan-saan eh. Pero if you do the country a favor, I will support you. And we all… then we’ll all go to jail, do not worry. Just follow the rules of engagement, the requirements of the performance of duty," the President added.

Last year, Duterte named Mabilog among the local government officials allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade.

Mabilog has denied Duterte’s accusation, saying he finds it “very unfortunate and disconcerting.” He said then that he was fearing for his and his family’s safety.

Espenido was the police chief of Albuera, Leyte when Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. was killed inside his cell while CIDG operatives were serving him a search warrant. The CIDG is claiming Espinosa was killed in a shootout when he pulled a gun on them.

A number of policemen, including Superintendent Marvin Marcos, are facing homicide charges in connection with his killing and that of another inmate, drug suspect Raul Yap.

Espenido was reassigned to Ozamiz City after the Espinosa-Yap killings. After only a few months, Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog, his wife, brother, nephew and twelve others were killed in another CIDG operation to serve search warrants for illegal firearms in Ozamiz. — RSJ, GMA News

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