Albuera, Leyte town council commends local police chief for restoring peace

ORMOC CITY, Leyte, Aug. 17 (PNA) – The municipal council of Albuera, Leyte has commended the local police for their work in the past three weeks

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Town councilors on Monday unanimously agreed to pass a resolution commending the efforts of Chief Insp. Jovie Espenido and his team “in a quest to put back harmony and safety among people in the community, following series of killings and drug menace.”

Resolution No. 2016-140 recognizes "their exemplary delivery performance in the intensified and relentless implementation of their crusade against illegal drugs and in their campaign against criminality within the municipality of Albuera, Leyte".

Vice Mayor Rosa Meneses, on behalf of residents, thanked the local police in their serious anti-criminality campaign that gained the trust and confidence of the people.

Espenido, who assumed the post last July 18, said he is optimistic that peace in the town, especially at night, would be restored.

Espenido has led police operations at the houses of Mayor Rolando R. Espinosa Sr., leading to the confiscation of illegal drugs, bomb components and firearms, among others, allegedly owned by the mayor and his son.

The local police also neutralized the Espinosas' private army.

“We will continue to fulfill our mission of sustaining equal service and protection to all people, regardless of status,” Espenido said.

On Tuesday morning, the embattled mayor returned to work a few weeks after he left the town to surrender to Philippine National Police Dir. Gen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, beating the 24-hour deadline of President Rodrigo Duterte’s “shoot on sight” order on him and son Kerwin, the suspected top drug lord in the region. (PNA)
CVL/SQM/ELVIE ROMAN ROA/EGR