A high-ranking police officer is the latest in the list of witnesses who have given strong statements regarding former President Rodrigo Duterte's anti-drug campaign.
The new “witness” is none other than Police Lieutenant Colonel Jovie Espenido, the former poster boy of the anti-drug campaign, who rose to prominence on the national stage for spearheading massive anti-drug operations under the previous administration. During the House mega-panel hearing on Wednesday, August 28, Espenido revealed how the Philippine National Police (PNP) was used in the bloody anti-drug campaign that resulted in the deaths of nearly 30,000 people.
“From my experience, I can say that the PNP is the biggest criminal group in this country. I did my job honestly but I was not promoted because I was always on derogatory lists,” Espenido said in his affidavit seen by Rappler. The document was also submitted to the House mega-panel.
The policeman became known for his anti-drug operation that resulted in the death of Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog and 14 others. He was also the local police chief in Albuera, Leyte when the police killed Mayor Rolando Espinosa while executing a warrant in his detention cell. After the major operations, Duterte praised him and said "he is free to kill everyone."
