Members of the Diocese of Bacolod have offered mixed reactions on the reassignment of Police Lt. Colonel Jovie Espenido to Bacolod City. For Fr. Cris Gonzalez of the Social Action Center, he welcomed the move,
“We welcome and support Espenido here,” he said. “The way I see it [is] we should be thankful for the concern of the president for Bacolod City.”
However, he pointed out, whatever the problem, it should be resolved through peaceful means and not through violence.
“Dignity of life should be above all,” Gonzalez added.
Diocese of Bacolod Bishop Patricio Buzon, meanwhile, described President Rodrigo Duterte’s comments on the reassignment as “disrespectful.”
“Coming from a president, such [a] statement is irresponsible, to say the least, and utterly insensitive and disrespectful to the people of Negros,” he said. “God is the author of life and He alone has the right to take it.”
Despite being assigned to Bacolod City, Espenido was shown on social media visiting San Carlos City last Friday.
Many netizens believe the law enforcement official may be familiarizing himself with neighboring towns and cities, especially with San Carlos City being identified as one of the region’s entry points for illegal drugs./DGB, WDJ