Jovie Espenido


Police Lieutenant Colonel Jovie Espenido is a ‘controversial’ Filipino police officer well-known as crusader of anti-illegal drugs.

Early life

Espenido was born on October 19, 1968 in San Miguel, Surigao Del Sur, Philippines. He is the seventh among the ten siblings. His parents, Josepina and Vicente, gave “Jovie” a name that fused their own.
He is a licensed criminologist and a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Criminology. He possessed also certain skills in electronics and mechanics.

Career

On September 16, 1996, Espenido entered the Philippine National Police and the Regional Mobile Group 7, particularly in Negros Oriental was his first assignment.
By 2005, He was assigned to Ormoc. During his assignment, he caught the former mayor of the city for patronizing illegal logging operations. Afterwards on 2008, he had caught a break when 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. Various most wanted criminals in the town were also nabbed during his term.
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.
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.

Awards and Decorations

Espenido is married to Shiela Bandal. They had three daughters. He is a devout member of Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

Controversies and Criticism

Killing of suspected political goon

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

Bloody raid of ‘Martilyo Gang’

The Department of Justice filed homicide raps against Espenido for ‘Martilyo Gang’ raid that killed 6 people in Ozamis City.

Inclusion in Duterte’s drug watchlist

On February 12, 2020, DILG Secretary Eduardo Año announced that Espenido is among the 357 policemen on President Rodrigo Duterte's drug watchlist, also known as narco list.

Killing of Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr.

, then mayor of Albuera, Leyte, died on November 5, 2016, at the Baybay City Provincial Jail when 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.

Assassination of Mayor Parojinog

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