E. Visayas cops belie claim PNP is biggest crime syndicate in PH
TACLOBAN CITY – The Eastern Visayas police were surprised at the claim of Col. Jovie Espenido, the former chief of police of Albuera town in Leyte, that the Philippine National Police (PNP) was the “biggest crime syndicate” in the country.
Col. Peter Limbauan, head of the regional community affairs and development division of the Police Regional Office in Eastern Visayas, said their anti-drug operations had always been legitimate, contrary to the claim of Espenido.
“We were surprised by his (Espenido) statement. We all know that it is not true. But we leave it up to Congress to conclude their investigation,” Limbauan said in an interview on Thursday.
Espenido, who led high-profile anti-drug operations during his stint as Albuera police chief from July to December 2016, made the allegation during the Aug. 28 hearing on the illegal drug situation in the country before the House of Representatives.
Limbauan also stressed that the safety of their personnel is of utmost importance, especially during operations: “We must protect the lives of our policemen. They should be safe. Together with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, we are doing our best to address the proliferation of illegal drugs in the region.”
Espenido, who currently has no assignment, also claimed that former PNP chief and now Sen. Ronald “Bato” De La Rosa had provided protection to the Espinosas when they lorded over Albuera, an allegation the senator has denied.
Albuera (population: 47,000) was previously identified as a center for illegal drug activities in Eastern Visayas allegedly led by then Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. and his son, Kerwin.
Mayor Espinosa was killed in a shootout with Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) operatives at the sub-provincial jail in Baybay City, Leyte, on Nov. 5, 2016.
Kerwin, a confessed drug lord, is still facing money laundering case before a Pasay City court and two cases for illegal possession of dangerous drugs and illegal possession of firearms that the Court of Appeals has ordered reopened before a Manila Regional Trial Court.
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