Parojinogs to sue CIDG

‘Protect Parojinog siblings’

Anti-crime advocates on Tuesday expressed concern over the safety of the surviving siblings despite earlier assurances by PNP chief Ronald de la Rosa that they would be safe inside the police headquarters in Camp Crame.

Dante Jimenez, founding chairman of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC), said the Parojinog siblings should not suffer a similar fate as that of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr., who his jail cell in Baybay, Leyte last year.

“The PNP chief made the same assurance to former mayor Espinosa, but we all know what happened to him. There was already a precedent so we are appealing to the chief PNP to secure them,” Jimenez said.

The VACC chairman issued the appeal after receiving a letter from the vice mayor asking the organization to assist in the investigation of the simultaneous raids in Ozamiz City early Sunday.

In a letter to Jimenez on July 31, Parojinog’s daughter Nova Princess insisted that the raids were illegal.

The vice mayor claimed the authorities planted evidence to frame her for crimes she did not commit.

“On behalf of my family, we humbly implore your assistance in let justice be given its day,” she said.

Jimenez said the VACC will wait for the results of the investigation being conducted by the authorities, before responding to the request of the vice mayor.

The group, however, will request the National Bureau of Investigation to launch an independent investigation into how the raids were conducted.

“We will not tolerate reckless and irresponsible acts. There could be violation of the rules of engagement,” Jimenez said.

CHR steps in

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has also started its own investigation into the Ozamiz raids.

CHR spokeswoman Jacqueline de Guia told “human rights should always be upheld and the rule of law... hence, an exhaustive investigation has to be made.”

As part of the probe, CHR has asked the PNP to preserve all evidence from Sunday’s deadly raids, including video from security cameras.

However, Ozamiz police chief Jovie Espenido said the raiding team disabled the security cameras to conceal the identity of police informants.

Espenido also said the mayor had sent surrender feelers but did not follow through.

He said the search warrants were served at 2:30 a.m. because there were fewer people at that time.

“There were children and women inside their house because the food was free. It looked like they were there as human shields if something happened. And we observed that at 2:30 a.m. there were fewer people. So if we carried out the raid that time, there would be fewer casualties,” he explained.

Espenido maintained that the to retaliate.