House witness tags PNP as ‘biggest crime group’

Police leadership, Dela Rosa reject EJK accusation

A police officer who served as witness in the ongoing House committee probe into the Duterte administration’s bloody war on drugs tagged the Philippine National Police as “the biggest crime group in the country.”

In his affidavit, Lt. Col. Jovie Espenido said the directive to eradicate illegal drugs during the previous administration involved a quota and reward system for every suspected drug personality killed.

But when he dismantled the Kerwin Espinosa drug syndicate, Espenido said he was punished with a one-month suspension because of people who protected the group.

“From my experience I can say that the PNP is the biggest crime group in this country. I did my job faithfully but I could not be promoted because I am always in some derogatory list,” he said.

The Philippine National Police, however, rejected the accusation of Espenido, who insisted he was made a scapegoat for drug-related extrajudicial killings during the previous administration.

“We are saddened because there are many police officers who are serious and loyal to their duty. Many have given their lives and it is sad that the whole organization was labeled by him,” PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said.

While admitting that “a small percentage…may stray from the straight path,” Fajardo said the PNP has “existing internal disciplinary mechanisms” to address such cases.

“An organized crime group is formed for one purpose only – it is to commit crimes. This is far from the reality of why the PNP was established, so we don’t know where this police officer is coming from. It casts doubt, casts shadow on the integrity of the entire PNP,” she said.

“This is evidence that the PNP leadership consistently upholds what is right and strives to provide the best possible service to the nation, setting an example for others to follow,” Fajardo added.

Government records showed more than 6,000 have been killed in anti-drug operations since June 2016 until May 31, 2022, a month before Duterte’s term ended, but human rights groups estimated the death toll may be as high as 30,000.

Senator Ronald dela Rosa, who served as PNP chief during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte, likewise belied Espenido’s claim that he ordered the killing of drug suspects.

“I didn’t order them (police) to kill,” Dela Rosa said.

For his part, Senator Christopher Go chided Espenido for linking him to the reward system during Duterte’s war on drugs, which the police officer claimed came from intelligence funds and POGO money “funneled downward from the level” of Go.

“It’s just alarming how my name was included in his affidavit. When I was still the Special Assistant to the President, I never handled any funds related to the drug war and most especially anything from POGO. More so when I became senator in 2019,” Go said.