De Lima tells Espenido to ‘come clean, tell all’ after he surrenders to police

Senator Leila De Lima on Thursday called on Police Lieutenant Colonel Jovie Espenido, the controversial cop who led major drug operations against big-time drug suspects, to "come clean and tell all."

This, after it was reported that Espenido and two other policemen surrendered to the police in light of the homicide cases they are facing over a police operation back in 2017.

"Time for Espenido to come clean and tell all," De Lima said in a tweet.

Time for Espenido to come clean and tell all. Who ordered him to execute Mayor Espinosa and the Parojinogs? Who ordered him to lie during a Senate inquiry about my alleged links to Kerwin Espinosa?

— Leila de Lima (@SenLeiladeLima) April 1, 2021

According to a report by the Philippine Star, Espenido surrendered in connection with complaints filed against him and his subordinates by one Carmelita Manzano, whose relatives were killed in a supposed shootout with Espenido and his fellow police.

Espinosa, Parojinog

De Lima also said Espenido should reveal who is behind the killing of Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa in 2016 and Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr. in 2017.

"Who ordered him to execute Mayor Espinosa and the Parojinogs?" she said.

Espenido led the operation against the Parojinog clan in 2017 in Ozamiz City, which resulted in the death of Parojinog Sr. and several of his relatives.

The Parojinogs were accused by President Rodrigo Duterte of having links to the illegal drug trade.

Prior to that bloody drug operation, Espenido was the police chief of Albuera, Leyte when Mayor Rolando Espinosa was shot dead inside a prison cell in Baybay City in 2016.

De Lima also said Espenido should also disclose who ordered him to "lie" during a Senate hearing on her alleged ties with self-confessed drug distributor Kerwin Espinosa.

"Is he confident that he will be protected or saved from the legal woes he’s now facing? Is he that stupid?!" De Lima quipped.

"Remember, those whom Duterte use, usually end up dead. That is why Matobato and Lascañas had to flee and bare all," she added.

De Lima was referring to Edgar Matobato, a self-confessed hitman who testified in a Senate inquiry in 2016 on the existence of the Davao Death Squad and Duterte’s role in the killings in Davao City.

Retired police officer Arturo Lascañas from Davao City also testified in the Senate inquiry on the supposed Davao Death Squad.

Prior to his surrender to the Philippines, Espenido was reported to be included in the government's drug watchlist. — BM, GMA News