LOOK: Espenido receives his award from President Duterte for his efforts in anti-illegal drug operations @ABSCBNNews pic.twitter.com/8K5VVbolTc

— Dharel Placido (@dgplacido) August 9, 2017

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday gave an award to Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido, whose stint as police chief in Albuera, Leyte and Ozamiz City saw the death of two alleged “narco-politicians.”

Espenido, currently Ozamiz City police chief, received a special individual award for his “outstanding performance in anti-illegal drug operations that led to the eradication of illegal drug activities in Eastern Visayas and Ozamiz City.”

Espenido received the award during the 116th anniversary of the police service. Several other officers were also given awards for their service.

The official was the chief of Albuera Police when the town’s mayor, Rolando Espinosa Sr., was arrested on drug charges in Leyte and eventually killed during a police operation in his detention cell at Baybay City, Leyte in November 2016.

Espenido was transferred to Ozamiz City in December 2016.

Several months later, the city’s Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog, and 15 others died in a drug raid.

Espenido has denied irregularity in carrying out drug raids. He also maintained that the Parojinogs had links to the illegal drug trade.

• READ: Parojinogs ordered executions, faked drug war wins: Espenido