📷Ret. police Col. Jovie Espenido
Retired police Colonel Jovie Espenido reiterated that former PNP Chief Ronald dela Rosa and ex-Presidential Assistant Bong Go urged him to remove Clarin, Misamis Occidental Mayor David Navarro’s name from then-President Duterte’s “narco-list.”
During the Senate probe into Duterte’s drug war, Senator Dela Rosa challenged Espenido’s affidavit claim that he and Go called him together to remove Navarro’s name from the narco-list.
“Your Honor, Mr. Chair, sa totoo lang, tumawag ka sa akin. Una si Sir Bong, nagsabi na huwag mo nang galawin si Mayor Navarro kasi wala na siya, cleared na siya. Nagsasabi naman akong totoo, Your Honor, Mr. Chair,” Espenido said.
Dela Rosa clarified that couldn’t recall that he called Espenido. Similarly, Go questioned the cop’s claim that he called to clear Navarro’s name from the drug list.
“Meron bang nagpahabol sa iyo na isingit yung pangalan ko? Yes or no lang naman,” Go said.
“Wala naman, Your Honor. Mr. Chairman,” Espenido replied.
“I have also said that I have no personal knowledge about sa sinabi na ni late Mayor Navarro. I’m just only relating the message, the word came from Mayor [Navarro]. Nag-explain siya pinapupunta ako ni Sir Bong para ma-clear ang pangalan ko,” Espenido added.
Espenido stated that Navarro questioned why he was reportedly the only police chief in Misamis Occidental who declined to accept monthly gambling money. He added that his affidavit conveyed what he had been told.
Espenido’s affidavit also stated that police were mandated to visit 50 to 100 households of suspected drug users and traffickers daily, with a P100,000 reward for successful drug busts during the Duterte administration.
However, Go said Espenido’s statements should not be believed since Espenido himself said he has no personal knowledge of what Navarro said to him.
“Gusto ko lang maklaro. Purely hearsay yung sinasabi mo? Narinig mo lang? ” Go said.
“Yes. Mr. Chair,” Espenido replied.
In his first appearance at the House Quad committee probe in August 2024, Espenido has acknowledged the presence of a “quota and reward system” for police officers during the anti-drug campaign initiated by the former President. He stated, “I confirm that there was a quota and reward system in the implementation of the war on drugs during the previous administration. My intention was to carry it out without resulting in fatalities. When a quota of 50-100 was set daily, we interpreted it as a directive to visit 50-100 households suspected of drug involvement.”
Espenido indicated that the reward for each killing amounted to PHP 20,000, with the distribution of these payments managed by “bagmen” who delivered funds to senior police officials. He commented, “I personally know some of the bagmen. Numerous PNCO (police non-commissioned officers) who were my classmates have been killed. They acted as bagmen under the orders of regional and provincial directors.”
In this context, Espenido implicated Go as a key figure in the distribution of funds. He claimed that money from Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) was utilized in the drug war, stating, “Once these POGOs registered with the government, funding was directed downwards from Bong Go.” Additional funding sources included operators of Small-Town Lottery (STL) and jueteng lords, with Espenido also alleging that intelligence funds were misappropriated for these activities.
Espenido asserted that these serious allegations were based on information provided by Clarin City Mayor David Navarro of Misamis Occidental, and that the reward system was widely known among police personnel. Tragically, Mayor Navarro was murdered in Cebu City in October 2019 while en route to attend inquest proceedings related to complaints of physical injuries and acts of lasciviousness. (TCSP)
US judge approves KOJC exec Marissa Duenas’ guilty plea
Judge Terry Hatter Jr. of the United States District Court for the Central District of California has accepted the guilty plea of Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) administrator Marissa Duenas.
Duenas, a human resources manager for the KOJC in Van Nuys, agreed to plead guilty to the conspiracy charge to defraud the US in exchange for a reduced sentence.
During questioning, Hatter confirmed Duenas’ understanding of her plea agreement.
The agreement indicated that Duenas and others sought to maintain US immigration status for KOJC members by arranging “sham marriages” with other members who were US citizens.
According to court document, Duenas stated that she was neither threatened nor coerced and that she voluntarily provided information about KOJC’s illegal operations in California.
Hatter said the court finds “factual and legal basis for the plea, and the plea is free of any coercive influence.”
“There have been no promises of any kind made to the Defendant by anyone and no threats of coercion have been exerted upon Defendant in any manner,” it added.
The court has referred Duenas to the Probation Office for an investigation and the preparation of a pre-sentence report to determine her sentencing.
Her sentencing is scheduled for February 24, while the plea hearings for KOJC officials Amanda Estopare and Guia Cabactulan are set for November 18, 2024.
Estopare and Cabactulan have also reached agreements with the US Attorney’s Office for reduced sentences. —KBK, GMA Integrated News
