The Philippine National Police (PNP) has responded to the statements of Vice President Robredo on police officers involved in illegal drugs.
According to Robredo, the PNP administration should not cover up the involvement of some members of the police force in the drug watchlist which could cause public distrust on the organization.
PNP Chief Gen. Archie Gamboa said they do not have any intentions of protecting police officers involved in the said activity.
“Wrong statement causes no basis. We will adjudicate him. Why would [she] say we’re protecting them? Had we intend[ed] to protect them, we will not release 357?” Gamboa said in Filipino.
One of the names in the drug watchlist of Duterte is Police Lt. Col. Jovie Espenido which was later confirmed by DILG Secretary Eduardo Año. This was neither confirmed nor denied by Gamboa.
Espenido is popular due to the operations he initiated in the drug war which resulted to the death of alleged drug lords, such as Reynaldo Parojinog of Ozamiz City and Rolando Espinosa of Albuera, Leyte.
Año assured that the actions of Espenido against illegal drugs will play a part in the validation process.
“What Espenido in Ozamiz is a big factor in the issue of his adjudication and investigation. This must be what the president saw and led him to give a statement that Espenido is clean,” Año said.
Although it was earlier stated by Malacañang that the president still trusts Espenido, the latter may not get away with it once irregularities are found against him. – Report from Bea Bernardo
