Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco, Jr., in his latest visit to Bohol earlier this week said that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has warned in jest: “watch where Espenido is assigned.”
Evasco was referring to police Chief Insp. Jovie Espenido who was instrumental in the neutralization of the Parojinog family for alleged involvement in illegal drugs and other criminality in Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental.
The Cabinet secretary was in Bohol as the guest of honor during the 297th foundation day celebration and launching of first “Panagat (fishing) Festival” of Dauis town in the tourist island of Panglao, led by Mayor Miriam Sumaylo.
It may be recalled that prior to his assignment as police director in Ozamiz City, Espenido was the police chief in Albuera, Leyte where he led the arrest of the municipality’s allegedly drug-linked mayor Rolando Espinosa.
Following the fall of both Espinosa and the Parojinogs’ patriarch Reynaldo, majority of the public is still in favor of the government’s continued war on illegal drugs, said Evasco citing a survey without elaborating on its coverage and other specifics.
Evasco also noted that it has become more evident that there are more politicians involved in the illegal drug trade.
However, no Boholano has been tagged by the Duterte administration as among the said drug-linked government officials.
Previously, Duterte showed to his former law mentor and former governor Atty. Victor de la Serna and incumbent Bohol Vice-Governor Atty. Dionisio Balite a “thick” list containing names of alleged narco-politicians.
The list reportedly included congressmen, governors, municipal mayors, barangay officials and several former military and police officials.
Both Balite and de La Serna were in Malacanang recently upon the invitation of Duterte. (with a report from rvo)