Ozamiz link eyed in Talisay drugs
Woman arrested in Lapu-Lapu for drug dealing had been hiding in Talisay but had come from Ozamiz, the city of the Parojinogs
Arrest of a female drug personality who originally hails from Ozamiz and who reportedly worked under Vice Mayor Nova Princess Parojinog, who is detained with her brother on drug and illegal possession of firearms charges, led police to believe that there is a connection During the Police Regional Office 7’s one-time big-time operations in the cities of Mandaue, Talisay and in Moalboal yesterday, three drug personalities were shot dead after they allegedly tried to open fire at operatives when they sensed they were being set up The Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 confirmed the presence of a Parojinog drug link in Talisay City and it might be a big factor in the city’s drug situation.
PRO 7 Director Debold Sinas said that they are coordinating with police stations in Ozamiz City after a drug personality identified as Jurilyn Pagalan was arrested in Barangay Basak, Lapu-Lapu City.
“She reportedly went into hiding in Talisay City before she transferred to Lapu-Lapu where she was caught by our operatives and the Tudela Municipal Police Station in Ozamiz,” Sinas said.
In another development, three drug personalities were killed in separate incidents during PRO 7’s one-time big-time operations.
The regional director said Pagalan is one of the 10 most wanted persons in the Tudela station. Sinas clarified that they have yet to confirm that the shabu in Talisay is from Ozamiz City.
“But we don’t have evidence nga gikan didto (it’s from there) but by the presence of Pagalan who is from Ozamiz, we will still establish the link. We’ll be finding evidences and conduct interviews if we can establish it,” Sinas said.
He said they suspect the Parojinogs have infiltrated Talisay City.
“We managed to confirm intel reports that the Parojinogs used Cebu as their transshipment,” Sinas said in Cebuano.
Who are the Parojinogs?
Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) Director Manuel Abrugena said that Pagalan hails from Bitoon, Ozamiz City and was reportedly under Nova Princess Parojinog.
In July 2017, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the Ozamiz City police conducted a simultaneous raid in the house of the Parojinogs in Ozamiz and other associated properties, leaving 15 person killed includ- ing incumbent Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog and his wife. Reynaldo had been named by the President for his alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade.
Nova Princess is Reynaldo’s daughter and the vice mayor of Ozamiz City. She and her brother Reynaldo Jr. are detained on drug and illegal possession of firearms charges.
Meanwhile, the three suspected drug personalities who were killed yesterday morning allegedly resisted arrest during the PRO 7’s one-time big-time operations in the cities of Mandaue, Talisay and in Moalboal.
PRO 7 operatives also arrested 75 persons facing various offenses, including cases for vibeen olating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and illegal possession of firearms.
Yesterday, Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) operatives seized 71.78 grams of white crystals believed to be shabu worth P418,000, while the CPPO confiscated 249 packs of “shabu.” Eleven loose firearms were also seized.
MCPO Director Julian identified one of the fatalities as Eugene Fermin of Barangay Umapad.
He said Fermin pulled out his .45 pistol when he detected he was dealing with the police. The companion of the officer, who acted as the customer, shot Fermin.
In Sitio Magay, Barangay Tangke, Talisay City, the fatality was identified as Parolito Obrero. His alleged cohort Robinson Dejacto was arrested.
In Moalboal, police identified the fatality as Phil John Ediza, a suspected pusher in Barangay Poblacion East.
Both Obrero and Ediza opened fire at the operatives after sensing them. Ediza managed to hit one operative, but the latter was wearing a bulletproof vest.
The suspects were all brought to hospitals, but they were declared dead on arrival.