TACLOBAN CITY – Controversial police officer Chief Insp. Jovie Espenido is going back to Eastern Visayas, two years after his transfer outside the region.
Chief Supt. Dionardo Carlos, police director for Eastern Visayas, said he received a directive from their national headquarters informing him about Espenido’s reassignment to Region 8.
Carlos said he didn’t know Espenido’s specific new assignment.
“We will wait for the directive. If it’s at my level, then I will make a decision where I can place him where he can best serve the region. I will see where he will best fit, looking at his background,” he said.
Asked what could be the reason behind Espenido’s return to Eastern Visayas, Carlos said a police officer could be sent anywhere and was expected to carry out his duties well.
Espenido was police chief of Albuera town in Leyte where he was responsible for dismantling the illegal drug operations of the region’s biggest drug syndicate ran by Rolando “Kerwin” Espinosa Jr., whose father, Rolando Espinosa Sr., was then mayor.
After he was transferred to Albuera on July 18, 2016, Espenido ran after the members of the drug group, forcing the elder Espinosa to surrender to the police and Kerwin to flee the country.