The Department of Justice will begin today (Tuesday) its preliminary investigation on the criminal charges against Ozamiz City chief of police Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido and three other police officers tagged in the killing of nine suspected robbers during an operation last June.
The DOJ earlier summoned Espenido and co-respondents Chief Inspector Glyndo Lagrimas, Senior Police Officer 4 Renato Martir Jr. and Police Officer 1 Sandra Louise Nadayag to answer charges of murder and arbitrary detention.
Prosecution Attorney Loverhette Jeffrey Villordon has been assigned to conduct the preliminary investigation in hearings today and on Aug. 22. The prosecutor asked the respondents to submit their respective counter-affidavits.
Espenido recently went to the DoJ to personally get a copy of the complaints filed by relatives of Francisco Manzano, one of nine alleged robbers killed during the shootout with the police last June 1.
The complaint accused the policemen of rubout in killing the suspects during the series of raids in Cabinti and Balintawak villages last June 1 where six other suspects were arrested.
Police recovered firearms, pieces of jewelry, and sachets of suspected shabu from the suspects during the raids.
Espenido also led policemen in the killing of Ozamiz Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog, his wife and 14 others during predawn raids in his house last July 30.
Members of the Parojinog family have claimed that the items seized during the raids, including unlicensed firearms, ammunition, drugs and cash, were planted and that the mayor and the other fatalities did not fire at the policemen.
The slain mayor’s children, Vice Mayor Nova Princess Parojinog-Echavez and Reynaldo Jr., were arrested during the raids and later on indicted for charges of drug possession and illegal possession of firearms.
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.