At least Parojinogs were not killed in detention, Lacson says

While the deaths of Ozamiz Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog and 11 others during a raid has similarities to the death of former Albuera, Leyte mayor Rolando Espinosa, "at least" the Parojinogs were not killed while inside a detention facility, Senator Panfilo Lacson said Sunday.

"Whatever the circumstances of the deaths [are], at least this time, the mayor and the others killed were not under detention in a government facility," Lacson said on Sunday.

"They were reportedly in the mayor's farm/residence and capable of shooting it out with the authorities," he added.

The senator said that based on initial reports on the police operation, there was no reason yet for the Senate to look into it.

Parojinog, his wife Susan, provincial board member Octavio Parojinog Jr., and nine others were killed in a pre-dawn drug raid on Parojinog's home on Sunday.

Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido, Ozamiz City police chief, led the operation aimed at recovering loose firearms reportedly being kept inside the mayor's residential compound.

Espenido was the chief of police of Albuera, Leyte, whose former mayor, Rolando Espinosa, was killed by policemen inside his detention cell last November.

Last December, Espenido was transferred to Ozamiz City.

Lacson also said that Octavio Parojinog Sr., the father of Mayor Parojinog and board member Octavio Jr., was the founder of Kuratong Baleleng.

"While the group started as an anti-communist group under the supervision of the military in that area, overtime, they were  reportedly transformed into a criminal group engaged in KFR [kidnap for ransom], robberies, extortion and other illegal activities," he said.

The Parojinogs came to national attention after their names appeared on President Rodrigo Duterte's list of personalities allegedly linked to illegal drugs trade.

Duterte said Mayor Parojinog is the father-in-law of Herbert Colanggo, one of the top drug lords in the country.

The elder Parojinog denied that Colanggo was his son-in-law, but said that he was the boyfriend of his daughter Vice Mayor Nova Princess Parojinog-Echavez. She was also arrested during the raid.

In a separate statement, Senator Franklin Drilon questioned the time when the search warrants were served by the policemen.

Drilon mentioned that the search warrant issued on Espinosa last year was also served before dawn.

"Why are search warrants, served before dawn as in the cases of Mayor Espinosa and now, Mayor Parojinog, result  in the deaths of the persons being searched? Both are tagged as drug  lords. Too much of a coincidence?" he said. 

He added that search warrants are usually served in the daytime. He said it may also be served anytime of the night but "the issuing judge must so expressly specify in the search warrant(Section 9, Rule 126, Rules of Court)."  — BM/ALG, GMA News