MANILA, Philippines - Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr., the man tagged in Kuratong Baleleng-led crimes, smuggling and drug trafficking, met a violent death before dawn yesterday as police conducted a series of raids on the family’s homes. Aside from the mayor, his wife Susan, brother Octavio Jr. and 12 others were also killed, including some members of the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team, in what police said was a shootout in San Roque Lawis, Ozamiz City, according to Senior Supt. Jaysen de Guzman, Misamis Occidental provincial police director. Chief Superintendent Timoteo Pacleb, Northern Mindanao police regional director, said the mayor’s daughter, Ozamiz Vice Mayor Nova Princess Echavez, and son Reynaldo Jr. were arrested during the series of operations that began at around 2:30 a.m. yesterday. Police said about P1.4 million in cash, half a kilo of suspected shabu and firearms were recovered from the vice mayor’s home. The lawyer of the Parojinogs disputed police claims that the raiders were met with a volley of gunfire from the mayor’s security personnel when they were about to implement the search warrants for the alleged presence of illegal drugs and unlicensed firearms. Last year, Parojinog was named by President Duterte as among the local chief executives involved in the illegal drug trade. He has admitted that his daughter was the girlfriend of convict Herbert Colanggo, a known drug lord at the New Bilibid Prison, but denied links to illegal drugs. But Reynaldo Sr. denied Colanggo was his son-in-law because Nova Princess was just granted an annulment of her marriage to former basketball player Edgar Echavez and was not married to Colanggo. According to Pacleb, Nova Princess is facing illegal possession of firearms and violation of the anti-drugs law. Pacleb said a police officer, whose identity has yet to be established, was wounded during the operation but was declared out of danger. “It’s not serious, shrapnel wound, something was said to have exploded but it was not yet clear if it was a grenade,” he said. Reports reaching Camp Crame showed joint teams from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Region 10 together with the Misamis Occidental provincial police and Ozamiz City police implemented six search warrants for Reynaldo Sr., his daughter, son Reynaldo Jr. and another brother and also Misamis Occidental board member Ricardo for charges of illegal drugs and loose firearms. Philstar “The PNP personnel serving the search warrants were met with volley of fire from their security, prompting our law enforcers to retaliate,” Pacleb said. Pacleb said the search warrants were applied and secured following reports that the suspects were still involved in proliferation of illegal drugs and maintaining private armies with unlicensed firearms. He said Reynaldo Sr., his wife and brother Octavio were in one house when they were killed during the police raids. Pacleb explained the search warrants in the houses of the Parojinogs were implemented at dawn to prevent any leakage and ensure minimal resistance on the part of those named in the court order. Pacleb pointed out the implementation of the search warrants was in order as the police operatives were accompanied by members of the barangay council and members of the media. Pacleb said raiders reportedly recovered low and high-powered firearms and undetermined amount of shabu. “No details of the quantity as inventory is ongoing,” he added. Aside from Colanggo, Duterte claimed the Parojinogs had links with Wu Tuan alias “Peter Co,” a drug triad member operating in Luzon and Metro Manila. The Philippine National Police revoked the firearm licenses of those named to be narco-politicians. Parojinog, his daughter and brother Ricardo had turned over to the police a total of 20 firearms in the middle of last August, in compliance with the PNP directive. The President and PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa do not believe they turned over all that they had. Pacleb said they will continue police operation against illegal drugs, loose firearms, private armed groups and other criminal syndicates. Philstar
