Espenido not needed in dismantling Samar private armed groups — PNP

CAMP RUPERTO KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte — The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Eastern Visayas clarified that controversial Ozamiz City Police head Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido is not needed by the PNP in the region in dismantling the private armed groups in Samar island.

Police 8 regional director Chief Supt. Gilbert DC Cruz told Leyte media that Espenido is not needed yet in Samar in running after the organized armed groups.

Espenido had also served in Samar and some towns of Leyte before he was assigned to Albuera, Leyte and helped in dismantling the Espinosa drug syndicate in Albuera, with members of the drug syndicate killed in alleged police shootout in legitimate police operations.

Cruz said he can handle and he is determined to dismantle the private armed groups in Samar island, particularly in the first district of Samar and Calbayog City.

He said he has now the list and names of the members of the private armed groups and he wants soon to have  a convention and not a peace covenant between them and he would enlist the help of the local government units in giving assistance to them if they surrender with their firearms.

Cruz said the intelligence community is also checking if these armed men are protected by law enforcement agencies as he believes they cannot operate such activities if they have no protection.

The private armed groups in Samar are said to be responsible in a series of killings of political leaders in Samar especially during last elections, sources told Manila Bulletin.