Bato dela Rosa: Espenido is Iloilo City police OIC

Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa said Wednesday he already assigned Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido as officer-in-charge of Iloilo City Police Office but if he would have his way, he would let him stay in Ozamiz City to finish his business there.

“I have already issued the order assigning him (Espenido) to Iloilo City,” Dela Rosa said during a press conference in Camp Crame.

He said Espenido will only be the officer-in-charge as the post of city director in a highly-urbanized city like Iloilo requires a police official with a rank of senior superintendent which is two ranks higher than that of Espenido.

“Hindi siya i-designate as full time capacity city director kundi officer-in-charge para ma-solve natin ang order ni Presidente,” he said.

At the same news briefing, Dela Rosa said he would have wanted Espenido to remain in Ozamiz City.

“If I will have my way, I prefer him to stay in Ozamiz para matapos ‘yung problema doon kung mamarapatin. Mas maganda nga doon muna siya. Anyway ‘yung sa sitwasyon sa Iloilo e nakikita ko na inaamin naman ni Mayor Jed Mabilog na  napabayaan niya yung problema  sa drugs noon, hindi niya na-address but right now, in fairness to the good mayor, nakikita ko rin naman na nagsususmikap siya sa anti-drug campaign sa Iloilo City,” he said.

He said he would raise the matter before President Rodrigo Duterte when he meet him later in the day.

Dela Rosa will be in Malacañang for the oath-taking of star-rank police officials and the joint Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police command conference.

The PNP chief added that he would also tell the President the concerns of the people of Ozamiz on the transfer of Espenido.

“The people of Ozamiz are airing their protest against that order. Kung tanggalin si Espenido doon e yung mga tao sa Ozamiz e magpi-people power dahil ayaw nilang umalis si Espenido doon dahil meron pa siyang unfinished business,” he said.

“Hindi pa totally stable yung sitwasyon ng Ozamiz so that has to be addressed too. Mahirap din if they will be left hanging after that incident na hindi pa totally na-stabilize ‘yung stiwasyon ng Ozamiz then tanggalin siya doon, mademoralize ‘yung mga tao,” he added. — RSJ, GMA News