By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Following the death of the top Western Visayas drug lord Richard ‘Buang’ Prevendido last Friday evening, Police Regional Office-6 (PRO-6) director, Police Chief Superintendent Cesar Hawthorne Binag, said the Philippine National Police (PNP) cancelled the reassignment of Police Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido as Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) director.
Espenido currently serves as Ozamiz City police chief.
In a press conference last Saturday morning, Binag announced Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NOrPPO) director, Police Senior Superintendent Henry Biñas, would be the new ICPO chief.
Despite the PRO-6 chief saying it was “unclear” why the transfer was canceled, an anonymous source at PNP headquarters at Camp Crame claimed Espenido was ordered to pursue local crime groups currently operating in Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental.
Espenido, who was earlier appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte to head the local police in Iloilo City, is linked with the deaths of Mayor Rolando Espinosa of Albuera, Leyte and members of the Parojinog family, who ruled over Ozamiz City.
As of press time, Biñas has yet to receive his reassignment order.
ICPO is currently led by Police Senior Superintendent Jesus Cambay, following the earlier removal of Police Senior Superintendent Zacharias Canieso from the post./WDJ