Former BCPO official describes the

individual as ‘a greedy kind of person’
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Former Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) deputy director, Police Lt. Colonel Jovie Espenido, suspects that an “influential politician” may be responsible for his inclusion on a reported drugs watchlist. In a press conference yesterday, the law enforcement official said it is “impossible” for another police officer to forward his name because they share the same mission of eliminating illegal drug activities in the country.
“I cannot really pinpoint but one thing I can tell you—greedy, a greedy kind of person,” he said.
Despite being named on a drugs watchlist, the former BCPO official lauded Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año for “having the courage” to confirm his name was indeed on the list.
Meanwhile, Espenido confirmed background checks have already started as police officials visited his home in Isabel, Leyte. He noted, pictures of his house were already taken by authorities and he has asked his family to cooperate with the ongoing investigation.
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier ordered Espenido’s assignment to Bacolod City claiming the locality has been “badly hit” by illegal drugs.
“Bacolod is badly hit now and I placed Espenido there, ‘yung kinatakutan nila na pulis  (Bacolod City is badly hit right now and I place Espenido there to have the police intimidate them),” he previously stated. “Sabi ko, ‘Go there and you are free to kill everybody.’ T*** ina (I said, ‘Go there and you are free to kill everybody’ [Expletive]).”
Earlier this month, online news site Rappler.com, broke the news that Espenido’s name was among 357 police officers allegedly linked to illegal drugs. The news, however, was not confirmed nor denied by Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Police General Archie Gamboa, who expressed dismay at Rappler for releasing the information.
Espenido is now undergoing adjudication processes before the PNP; however, it was confirmed, despite being assigned to the PNP chief’s office, he is still attached to Police Regional Office-6./DGB, WDJ