Survivor claims Ozamiz cop chief had gun planted on slain mayor Parojinog

A man who claimed to have survived and witnessed the pre-dawn raid at the Parojinog family compound almost a week ago claimed that the Ozamiz City chief of police was present during the operation.

According to Mariz Umali's report on "24 Oras", the survivor, so far only known as Cesar, said Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido even asked a policeman if something was already put in place at the scene of the raid.

Cesar took it to mean that Espenido was asking if a gun had already been placed in slain Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog's body to indicate that he had shot it out with the authorities.

"Okay na ba? Nasa saktong pwesto na ba yung nasa loob?" Cesar quoted Espenido as saying.

"Ang naisip ko yung planted na. Kasi nakita pinlanteran na si mayor e," he added.

Cesar said he didn't see Espenido's face but was certain about hearing his voice.

He added that the bodies of some of the mayor and other members of the clan had been moved from the original places where he saw them after the raid.

Cesar claimed that cops transferred the mayor's body that was leaning on a chair to a place near the door outside the family's store.

"Pag-gapang ko noong lumabas na ko sa bahay, ang mga posisyon nila nandiyan pa pero nung nakalabas na ko ng ospital, pagkapanood ko ng tv, ang mga katawan nila hindi na 'yung dating nakita ko. Nag-usog-usog na," Cesar said.

He said he first saw the body Board Member Octavio Parojinog at the foot of mayor's body.

It was later moved to the living room near the stairs.

"Iniba nila ang posisyon ng mga katawan," he said.

Cesar said police fired first and threw two grenades at the Parojinog compound, resulting in the deaths of 16 people, including the mayor, his wife Susan; the board member and their sister Mona.

The operation also yielded the arrest of the mayor's children Vice Mayor Princess Nova Parojinog and councilor Reynaldo Parojinog Jr.

"Version nila 'yan. Siguro pakinggan lang tapos doon tayo sa documentation. Demokrasya tayo.  Magsabi lang, dalhin sa court 'yun. Sa 'min as long as we have search warrant and masasabi namin kung ano talaga ang proseso 'yun talaga 'yung sa atin," Espenido said when sought for comment.

Espenido added he was ready to face any charges the Parojinog family may file based on Cesar's allegations.

It is up to the court to sift through the details of the operation, he added.

Cesar expressed his willingness to testify against the cops and that he is ready to undergo a drug test.

"Tingin ko God's will talaga na buhay ko para sabihin ko talaga 'yung totoong nangyari. 'Yung sinabi ko hindi fabricated," Cesar said. —Anna Felicia Bajo/NB, GMA News