On Wednesday, Ozamiz City police chief Senior Inspector Jovie Espenido made this declaration, quoted the Bible, and referred to himself in the third person in a press conference.
Asked by reporters where he wanted to be assigned next, Espenido said he has no preference and will abide by orders from the leadership of the Philippine National Police.
"Kung saan ako ilagay. Ako naniniwala sa Romans 8:28, 'All things work together for good to those who love God.' So maghintay sila sa akin," Espenido said.
Jovie Espenido also stated that he is not afraid to die.
“Hindi ako takot mamatay dahil alam ko ‘yung buhay ko, ng pamilya ko, ang may-ari ay ang Panginoon. Ang tao ay mamatay naman talaga. Walang kinatatakutan si Espenido,” he said.
“I’m proud to say na kahit hindi ma-promote, basta magtrabaho lang ako. Sayang ang sweldo ko kung hindi ako magtrabaho,” he added.
Espenido, a Seventh-day Adventist, denied that he is a killer of mayors accused of involvement in illegal drugs.
“Hindi naman maganda ‘yun, pero we are in a democratic country,” he said.
He said that he had been assigned to other cities in the past, and Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr. of Ozamiz City was only the second mayor killed during an operation on his watch.
Parojinog, his wife, his brother and 12 others were killed by police in a predawn raid on July 30. Another Parojinog family member later died in hospital.
Immediately before his posting to Ozamiz, Espenido was the police chief of Albuera, Leyte. Its mayor Rolando Espinosa, was shot dead in jail by police.
Espenido said he still has 10 more years in police service.
“Twenty-one years in service na ako. May 10 years pa. Marami pa silang pupuntahan natin,” he said.
At the 116th Police Anniversary ceremony at Camp Crame on Wednesday, Duterte bestowed an award on Espenido for his work.
“Sabi niya nung sinaluduhan ako na, 'I salute you, maganda ‘yung trabaho mo, pagbutihin mo pa',” Espenido said.
“High morale talaga ang pulis pang ang head of state ay willing mag-support sa’yo,” Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido added.