Parojinog clan member nabbed in Taiwan
A member of the Parojinog family – tagged by President Duterte as key players in the illegal drugs trade in Ozamiz City, Northern Mindanao – was arrested
Wednesday night in Taiwan where he had sought refuge following a series of police raids that resulted in 15 deaths and the arrest of his niece and nephew last year.
Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao, spokesman of the Philippine National Police (PNP), told a press conference yesterday that Ozamiz City Councilor Ricardo “Ardot” Parojinog’s arrest was an offshoot of the cooperation between the PNP and its counterpart in Taiwan.
“Our operatives confirmed that he was arrested in Taiwan last night (Wednesday). We are still waiting for the official report,” said Bulalacao.
Ardot was not in his house when police swooped down on several houses of the influential Parojinog clan that resulted in the death of his brother, Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr. and 14 others on July 30, 2017. The fatalities included the mayor’s wife.
It was gathered that Ardot had gone into hiding as early as January, 2017, months before the raids on their houses in Misamis Occidental.
Mayor Parojinog’s daughter Princess Nova and son Reynaldo Jr., who were arrested in those raids, and are now detained over various criminal charges that include illegal drugs cases.
No less than the President revealed the Parojinogs’ involvement in running a drug trafficking syndicate in Ozamiz and parts of Northern Mindanao. Nova was also linked to some convicted drug lords at the National Bilibid Prison (NBP).
Even after the bloody July raid, police continued to seize a cache of firearms and other materials in the residences of the Parojinog clan.
Palace welcomes arrest Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said Malacañang welcomed the arrest of Ardot in Taiwan after a year in hiding.
“Ito po ay mabuting balita dahil unang-una, ano pong ginagawa niya at nagtatago sa Taiwan kung siya po ay walang batas na nilabag. Sabi nga po nila, flight is evidence of guilt (This is good news because first of all, what was he doing hiding in Taiwan if he did not break the law. As they say, flight is evidence of guilt),” said Roque, who was speaking in Marawi City yesterday.
Due process
The Palace official assured residents of Ozamiz City that Parojinog will be tried for the charges leveled against him.
“Sisiguruhin naman po natin na magkakaroon ng katarungnan. Kung merong nalabag na batas itong si Councilor Parojinog siya po ay iimbestigahan, lilitis, at paparusahan sa krimen na ’yan (We will make sure that there will be justice. If he broke the law, then he will be investigated, tried and punished for his crimes),” he added.
He also urged the citizens of Ozamiz to report to authorities other crimes committed by members of the Parojinog clan.
“Kung meron pa po kayong reklamo dito sa nahuling councilor, makipag-ugnayan po kayo sa otoridad ng sa ganoon kung hindi pa nasasampahan ng kaso, eh masampahan na rin (If you have other complaints against the arrested councilor, please go to the authorities so you can press charges),” he said.
“Well, tingin ko po sa illegal possession of firearms tsaka sa drugs eh (Well, I think with all the cases against him about firearms and drugs), he will be very busy defending himself already,” he added.
PNP to fetch Ardot
The Department of Justice (DOJ), through the Bureau of Immigration (BI), has a standing lookout bulletin for Ardot.
As a matter of protocol, Ardot is expected to be fetched by a PNP contingent that would be sent to Taiwan.
It is not yet clear where Ardot would be detained when he is brought back to the country.