"Marami nagre-request sa kanya... But hindi tayo basta-basta, tapusin muna doon sa Ozamiz City," Dela Rosa said in a press briefing in Camp Crame.
Gen. Bato said that the PNP will validate possible areas where Espenido may be transferred.
"Mag-determine muna tayo kung sino next target, doon natin ilipat. Validate muna natin kung saan s'ya pwedeng ilipat," he said.
In the same press conference, PNP Chief said Espenido will receive a special award during the PNP's Police Service anniversary on Wednesday for his contributions to the government's war on drugs.
Espenido is the current chief of the Ozamiz City police, who supervised the simultaneous raids on the houses of the Parojinog clan.
Drug lord Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr., his wife and 14 others were killed in the predawn raids last July 30.
The mayor's children, Vice Mayor Nova Princess Parojinog-Echavez and Reynaldo Jr. had been arrested and are facing drugs-related and illegal possession of firearms charges.
The mayor was included on President Rodrigo Duterte's list of public official allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade.
Manhunt operations are ongoing against another member of the political clan, Ozamiz City Councilor Ricardo Parojinog.