DOJ finds probable cause to charge Parojinog siblings

MANILA - The Department of Justice (DOJ) has found probable cause to file drugs and firearms possession charges against Ozamiz City Vice Mayor Nova Princess Parojinog-Echavez and her brother Reynaldo Jr. following a bloody raid on their home that killed 16 people last Sunday.

The DOJ, through a resolution approved by Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Severino Gaña Jr., gave weight to the testimonies of the raiding team belonging to the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) in Northern Mindanao.

Sixteen people were killed in the alleged shootout between the Parojinogs' armed security men and the police serving search warrants on a compound owned by the family around 2:30 a.m. last Sunday.

Among those killed were Ozamis City Mayor Reynaldo and his wife Susan.

Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 89 Judge Cecilyn BurgosVillavert issued six search warrants to locate the alleged unlicensed firearms being kept by the Parojinogs in their residence.

According to the DOJ's resolution, although the search warrants were for the subjects alleged violation of the Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act), the subject should still be indicted for violation of the RA 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) as the officers were able to seize from their residences heated plastic sachets containing shabu.

"While the search warrant issued against respondent Nova Princess Parojinog was for violation of the RA 10591 and that the police officers were supposed to search for firearms and ammunition, they are not stopped, much less prohibited from seizing other unlawful items found in the course of the search," the resolution read.

"Under the plain view doctrine, objects falling in the plain view of an officer, who has a right to be in a position to have that view are subject to seizure and may be presented as evidence," it added.

Three counts of violation of RA 10591, one count of violation of RA 9165 for illegal possession of explosives and one count of Section 11 of the RA 9165 are set to be filed against Reynaldo Jr.

Two separate Information for possession of dangerous drugs and firearms were recommended to be filed against the Vice Mayor.

One M16 rifle, illegal drugs, and paraphernalia were reportedly seized from the vice mayor's residence. Several firearms and ammunition were meanwhile seized from her brother's house also located in the compound owned by the Parojinogs in San Roque, Lawis in Ozamis.

The resolution was prepared by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera and Assistant State Prosecutors Josie Christina Dugay and Ethel Rea Suril.

Earlier, the siblings claimed that the pre-dawn raids at their residence were premeditated and all the evidence were planted.

The siblings are currently detained at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City. SunStar Philippines