Jovie Espenido

Police Lieutenant Colonel Jovie Espenido[5][6] is a controversial[7][8][9][10][11] Filipino police officer known as a crusader of anti-illegal drugs.[12]

Police Lieutenant Colonel

Jovie Espenido
PLTC Jovie Espenido in 2020
Personal details
Born
Jovie R. Espenido

(1968-10-19) October 19, 1968
San Miguel, Surigao del Sur, Philippines[1]
Nationality Filipino
Spouse(s)Shiela Bandal
Children3 daughters
OccupationPoliceman
Military service
Nickname(s)Duterte’s Poster Boy[1][2][3][4]
Allegiance Philippines
Branch/service Philippine National Police
Rank
Police Lieutenant Colonel

Early life

Espenido was born on October 19, 1968 in San Miguel, Surigao del Sur, Philippines. He is the seventh of ten siblings. His parents, Josepina and Vicente, gave “Jovie” a name that fused their own.[1]

He is a licensed criminologist and has a Bachelor of Science in Criminology. He possesses skills in electronics and mechanics.[13]

Career

On September 16, 1996, Espenido entered the Philippine National Police and the Regional Mobile Group (RMG) 7, particularly in Negros Oriental was his first assignment.[14]

By 2005, he was assigned to Ormoc. During his assignment, he caught the former mayor of the city for patronizing illegal logging operations.[15] In 2008, the PNP promoted him to inspector.

On 2010, when he was the Chief of Police of Gandara Police Station, Espenido seized the former mayor Antonietto Cabueños and his political goons who illegally kept firearms in Gandara, Samar.[16][17][18] Various most wanted criminals in the town were also nabbed during his term.[19]

On July 13, 2016, a fortnight into Duterte's rule, the PNP assigned him to Albuera, a fishing town 30 minutes from Ormoc.

On October 16, 2019, Espenido was assigned as the Deputy City Director for Operations of the Bacolod City Police Office in Western Visayas.[20]

On 2020, he was reassigned back in Eastern Visayas by PNP Chief Police General Archie Gamboa as Deputy Provincial Director for Operations at Samar Police Provincial Office in Catbalogan.[21]

Awards and decorations
  • Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation
  • Meritorious Achievement Medal
  • Distinguished Service Medal
  • Military Civic Action Medal
  • Military Commendation Medals
  • Medalya ng Kagalingan (PNP Medal of Merit)
  • Medalya ng Kasanayan (PNP Efficiency Medal)
  • Medalya ng Papuri (PNP Commendation Medal)
  • Medalya ng Ugnayang Pampulisya (PNP Police Relations Medal)
  • Medalya ng Mabuting Asal (PNP Good Conduct Medal)
  • Medalya ng Paglilingkod (PNP Service Medal)

Personal life

Espenido is married to Shiela Bandal. They have three daughters.[22] He is a member of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church.[23]

Controversies and criticism

Killing of suspected political goon

In his attempt to arrest a fugitive and suspected political goon from Cebu, Espenido accidentally killed the suspect in the mountain of Mérida.

Bloody raid of ‘Martilyo Gang’

The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed homicide raps against Espenido for a ‘Martilyo Gang’ raid that killed six people in Ozamis City.[24][25]

Inclusion in Duterte’s drug watchlist

On February 12, 2020, DILG Secretary Eduardo Año announced that Espenido was among the 357 policemen on President Rodrigo Duterte's drug watchlist, also known as narco list.[26][27][28][29]

Killing of Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr.

Rolando Espinosa, then mayor of Albuera, Leyte, died on November 5, 2016, at the Baybay City Provincial Jail,[30] killed in his cell by policemen who claimed they were serving a search warrant. A month later, Espenido was removed from his post after he was named by Espinosa's son, Kerwin, as the conduit to Ronnie Dayan, the alleged bagman of Sen. Leila de Lima, whom the Duterte administration had detained on drug trafficking charges.[31]

Assassination of Mayor Parojinog

Espenido earned various criticism regarding the bloody operation against members of the influential family of Ozamis City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr. who is allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade.[32][33]

References
  1. peterhoskin (2019-11-14). "Duterte's poster boy". members.tortoisemedia.com. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  2. https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1844314/Cebu/Bzzzzz/Bzzzzz-They-suspected-Espenido-but-chose-not-to-tarnish-poster-boy-image
  3. https://cpp.ph/statement/the-poster-boy-is-a-narco-cop/
  4. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1230379/fwd-bato-on-espenido-inclusion-in-narcolist-ngayon-good-boy-ka-bukas-maging-bad-boy-ka
  5. Co, Adrian Stewart (February 18, 2020). "Controversial Police Lt. Col Espenido not yet off the book". www.panaynews.net. Retrieved 2020-06-30.
  6. Ellera, Teresa D. (2020-03-03). "Espenido in trouble". Sunstar. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  7. News, ABS-CBN. "Controversial 'drug war' cop Espenido on Duterte's narcolist". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  8. "Controversial Espenido surfaces, thanks Duterte for standing by him". Manila Bulletin News. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  9. Gonzales, Cathrine (2020-02-12). "Controversial cop Espenido distances self from alleged inclusion in drugs watchlist". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  10. Gelera, Shiela (October 2019). "Controversial cop assigned to Bacolod". www.visayandailystar.com. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  11. News, Dynah Diestro, ABS-CBN. "Controversial cop Espenido to run for mayor of Ozamiz City". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 2020-07-01.
  12. "Expedite investigation on Jovie Espenido". INQUIRER.net. 2020-02-14. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  13. "Is Chief Inspector Espenido pro-life?". INQUIRER.net. 2017-08-31. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  14. Talabong, Rambo. "Jovie Espenido sans the uniform". Rappler. Retrieved 2020-06-30.
  15. Talabong, Rambo. "Jovie Espenido's secret to fighting crime? His faith". Rappler. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  16. "PIA daily news in English, Tagalog, Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Ilocano, Waray, Pangalatok from around the Philippines". archives.pia.gov.ph. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  17. Lastimosa, Leo. "Una niyang mayor". philstar.com. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  18. "Gandara Mayor posts bail for gun ban violation". samarnews.com. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  19. "Police nabs Gandara, Samar's wanted person". samarnews.com. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  20. Share; Twitter; Twitter; Twitter. "Espenido gets new assignment in W. Visayas". www.pna.gov.ph. Retrieved 2020-06-30.
  21. Tupas, Emmanuel. "Espenido reassigned to Eastern Visayas". philstar.com. Retrieved 2020-07-29.
  22. "Adventist Media Ministry Organization - Isabel, Isabel (2020)". www.findglocal.com. Retrieved 2020-06-30.
  23. Welle (www.dw.com), Deutsche. "Philippines police chief shows affinity for Rodrigo Duterte's drug war | DW | 18.09.2018". DW.COM. Retrieved 2020-06-30.
  24. Juan, Joel R. San (2018-09-21). "DOJ files homicide raps vs Espenido for 'Martilyo Gang' raid that killed 6 | Joel R. San Juan". BusinessMirror. Retrieved 2020-06-30.
  25. Interaksyon (2017-08-15). "Espenido sees Parojinogs' hand in murder raps filed vs him by Martilyo Gang suspect's kin". Interaksyon. Retrieved 2020-07-01.
  26. "Jovie Espenido is on Duterte's narco list, DILG confirms". cnn. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  27. Talabong, Rambo. "Drug war poster boy Jovie Espenido is on Duterte drug list". Rappler. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  28. "DILG confirms drug war enforcer Espenido on Duterte narcolist". INQUIRER.net. 2020-02-14. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  29. "Espenido: I was ashamed and embarrassed to be included in the President's narco list". INQUIRER.net. 2020-02-18. Retrieved 2020-06-30.
  30. "Espenido says politicians may have linked him to drugs". cnn. Retrieved 2020-06-30.
  31. "Espenido stays as Ozamis police chief". Manila Bulletin News. Retrieved 2020-06-30.
  32. Torres-Tupas, Tetch (2019-05-31). "Espenido on Parojinog guilty verdict: 'Grabe! Thank God'". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2020-06-30.
  33. Mindanews (2017-07-31). "Police: We wanted to get the Parojinogs alive". MindaNews. Retrieved 2020-06-30.
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