Espenido, 3 other cops seek dismissal of criminal raps involving deaths of ‘Ozamiz 9’

Ozamiz City police head Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido and three of his subordinates on Tuesday asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to dismiss the criminal complaint against them in connection with the deadly operation against suspected criminals in the city on June 1.

Espenido, Chief Inspector Glyndo Lagrimas Pujanes, Senior Police Officer 4 Renato Martir Jr. and Police Officer 2 Sandra Louise Nadayag filed their respective counter-affidavits during the preliminary investigation hearing called by Associate Prosecution Attorney Loverhette Jeffrey Villordon.

The respondents claimed it was a legitimate police operation.

C/Insp. Jovie Espenido, 3 other cops ask DOJ to dismiss the criminal raps involving the deaths of so-called Ozamiz 9 on June 1. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/7fowsqHH0Q

— Virgil Lopez (@virgillopez) August 29, 2017

Espenido also pointed to the Parojinog political clan as behind the complaints.

"It is very unfortunate that complainant has succumbed to the pressure of the Parojinog group. Understandably, she is helpless," the counter-affidavit stated.

"I know fully well that the case is sponsored by the Parojinog group because the suspects involved were members of their armed group, and more importantly, to stop me from doing my job as a police officer."

The complaints for murder and arbitrary detention stemmed from the series of raids in Cabinti and Balintawak villages in Ozamiz City that led to the killing of nine people and arrest of six others suspected of being involved in the series of robbery incidents in the city.

Among those arrested was complainant Carmelita Manzano, wife of fatality Fancracio Semine Manzano and mother of another, fatality Jerry Manzano.

Carmelita said she was illegally detained from June 1 up to June 7 at the Ozamiz City Police Station.

After the hearing, the DOJ gave Carmelita 15 days to file a reply to the respondents' defense.

Respondents also have 15 days from the receipt of the complainant's reply to submit a rejoinder, if necessary.

"After the submission of said pleadings, the cases shall be submitted for resolution," Villordon said.

Espenido recently received an award from President Rodrigo Duterte for his contribution to the government's war on drugs as chief of the Ozamiz City Police Station and previous chief of Albuera, Leyte.

He also led policemen in the deadly predawn raids last July 30, which resulted in the killing of Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog, his wife and 14 others.

On Monday, Duterte announced that Espenido's next assignment would be Iloilo City, where the mayor, Jed Patrick Mabilog, is accused of protecting the illegal drug trade in the area.

Mabilog disputed the President's claim, saying he has neither used nor sold illegal drugs. — RSJ, GMA News