By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Police Major Jovie Espenido, who recently arrived to the region, was formally promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel yesterday morning. Police Regional Office-6 (PRO-6) director, Police Brigadier General Rene Pamuspusan, personally donned Espenido’s new rank during a press conference at Camp Martin Delgado in Iloilo City.
The PRO-6 director then designated Espenido as Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) deputy operations director effective yesterday.
BCPO director, Police Colonel Henry Biñas, said the appointment was made after consulting with Pamuspusan.
While it has to be determined when exactly Espenido will arrive in Bacolod City, Biñas said the deputy director will also serve as chief of the BCPO City Drug Enforcement Unit.
The BCPO director further stated, he is confident the new appointment will be a “big help” to the city’s campaign against illegal drugs and is sure he will be able to hunt down those behind the illegal drug trade.
Espenido, the former Ozamiz City police chief, reported for duty at PRO-6 on Tuesday morning and spent the day making courtesy calls to regional police officials.
The “controversial” police officer appears to have some familiarity with Bacolod City’s current situation as he questioned why drug suspects, who had earlier been arrested and released after agreeing to plea bargains, were back in the illegal drug trade.
He also advised drug suspects not only in Bacolod City but across the entire Western Visayas to stop their illicit activities and “not test his patience.”/DGB, WDJ