Aguirre asks SC to transfer Parojinog case to NCR court

JUSTICE SECRETARY Vitaliano N. Aguirre II has asked Chief Justice Maria Lourdes P.A. Sereno to transfer the case of the Parojinog siblings to a trial court in the National Capital Region (NCR), citing possible security threats and minimizing trial costs.

In a three-page letter, Mr. Aguirre “implores” the Supreme Court (SC) to transfer the case of Ozamiz City Vice-Mayor Nova Princess Parojinog-Echavez and her brother Reynaldo Parojinog, Jr. from the Ozamiz City Regional Trial Court to an NCR court, “preferably the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City.”

“Transferring the venue of the trial to the National Capital Judicial Region will obviate the need for security personnel to be assigned to the witnesses and more [Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP)] security escorts for the accused, thereby reducing costs of trial” Mr. Aguirre said.

“In addition, not only are the judges in Ozamiz City hesitant to try the cases in their sala, the Office of the City Prosecutor of Ozamiz City has likewise expressed concern and fear of threats in the event that they will be tasked to prosecute the cases in Ozamiz City,” Mr. Aguirre added.

“I would like to stress that notwithstanding the death of Mayor Parojinog, their clout should not be underestimated. The fact that they have been in power in Ozamiz City for so long is a clear indication that they have the capacity to influence, if not threaten the prosecution witnesses, the judges and the prosecutors and subvert the criminal proceedings in their favor,” Mr. Aguirre stressed.

A copy of the letter dated Aug. 17 was shared by Justice Undersecretary Erickson H. Balmes yesterday. —