Espenido told: Pogo money used to reward anti-drug units

Lt. Col. Jovie Espenido (File photo from the Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — A former mayor allegedly told Police Col. Jovie Espenido that money from Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos), small town lottery (STLs), and intelligence funds were used to reward police officers who implemented the Duterte administration’s anti-drug operations.

During the hearing of the House of Representatives’ quad-committee on Wednesday, Espenido said his informant was the late mayor David Navarro of Clarin, Misamis Occidental.

PBA party-list Rep. Margarita Nograles was asking Espenido about his affidavit implicating personalities as those facilitating the delivery of rewards to anti-drug units.

“Nakasulat din po dito sa affidavit niyo na ang pumpondo rin dito sa reward system na ito ay mga Pogo, galing sa Pogos,” Nograles said. “Siya (Navarro) rin mismo ang nagsabi sa inyo, Mr. Chair, na hindi lang STL, pati Pogo, pumopondo dito?”

(It was written here in your affidavit that the money used to fund that reward system was the money from Pogos. Is he (Navarro) the same person who told you that it’s not only STLs, but also Pogos, funding this?)

“‘Yon ang narinig ko kay Mayor Navarro,” Espenido said.

(That’s what I heard from Mayor Navarro.)

Espenido: Pogo money channeled through Bong Go

Nograles also asked Espenido about his claims that the money from Pogos was channeled through then-Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go.

She warned Espenido that these were grave allegations.

“Nakasulat dito after these Pogos were able to register to government, funding was funneled downward from the level of Bong Go. Mabigat po ang akusasyon na ito. So you confirm po Colonel na itong Pogo, may basbas at may orders na pagpopondo dito sa reward system dito sa Pogo, sa pinangalanan niyo po dito sa Paragraph 40 na si, tama po ba ito po ang ngayon na Senador natin, Senador Bong Go?” Nograles asked.

(It’s written here that after these Pogos were able to register with the government, funding was funneled downward from the level of Bong Go. This is a grave accusation. So you confirm, Colonel, that using these Pogos to reward cops had a blessing, from the person you named in Paragraph 40 who is — is it correct — that it is incumbent Senator Bong Go?)

“That’s the information I received from Mayor Navarro,” Espenido said.

He also said that the reward system was common knowledge among police officers.

“And meron din dito naka-sulat na intelligence funds din ang pumopondo sa rewards system na sinabi niyo sa affidavit niyo.  Pa’no niyo naman po alam na galing din sa intelligence funds?” Nograles asked.

(It was also stated here that intelligence funds were used to fund the rewards system, as stated in your affidavit. How do you know that it came from intelligence funds?)

“‘Yon ang mostly na marinig natin your Honor, sa aming mga pulis, na pagkukunan para sa mga fund ng reward system,” Espenido said.

(That’s what we heard your Honor, among us cops, that the funds for the reward system would come from intelligence funds.)

Navarro was shot to death in Cebu City on October 25, 2019, while he was on his way to the prosecutor’s office for inquest procedures. He was ambushed along with the police custodians securing him.

READ: Who is slain Clarin Mayor Navarro and why was he in Cebu City

He was facing complaints of physical injuries and acts of lasciviousness.

READ: Misamis Occidental town mayor dies in ambush while in police custody in Cebu

This is not the first time that it was revealed that Pogo money was used to fund the rewards system for police officers.

Last August 7, House committee on human rights chairperson and Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. justified the inclusion of his panel to the quad-committee as they received information that money from Pogos was used to reward cops allegedly involved in extrajudicial killings (EJKs) during the drug war.

Abante revealed it after he was asked why the EJKs were being lumped with the issues on Pogos.

READ: Abante defends rights panel’s role in joint probe on EJKs, drugs, Pogos

During the Duterte administration’s drug war, the PNP was criticized for the bloody campaign, leading some sectors to speculate that police officers had to comply with a quota on anti-drug operations.

In August 2023, former police colonel and now 1-Rider party-list Rep. Bonifacio Bosita claimed that there was a quota system, where police officers are required to comply with a minimum number of drug busts per week.

READ: Bosita bares ‘quota system’ in PNP forces cops to make illegal arrests 

During the inquiry, Espenido also said former Philippine National Police chief and now Senator Ronald Dela Rosa’s order to rid Albuera town in Leyte of drugs included neutralizing individuals linked to the drug trade.

READ: Espenido: Dela Rosa order for Albuera drug cleanup meant killing suspects