Survivor claims cops executed Parojinogs

A man who claimed to witness the bloody pre-dawn raid against the Parojinog family said cops never bothered to search the homes, saying they had always intended to kill Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog and other persons inside the residence.

In a "24 Oras" interview with Mariz Umali on Thursday, the man identified as Cesar said the cops had thrown two grenades at them.

"Wala. Akala ko nga pinapunta kami sa sala, may warrant ibinigay pero wala. Granada talaga binigay sa amin. Pinaputukan kaming granada... hinagisan kami. Di ako natamaan ng malalim kasi nandiyan si Board eh, nakaharang," Cesar said.

"Paghagis ng primerong granada, unang granada, mga 15, 30 seconds before hinagisan kami ng pangalawang granada," he added.

Last Sunday's raid led to the death of 16 individuals including Mayor Reynaldo; his wife, Susan; and his brother, Provincial Board Member Octavio Parojinog; and sister Mona.

The witness said he was sure that the grenade came from the police and not from the camp of the Parojinogs.

"Sigurado ako na galing sa pulis kasi nakita ko hinagisan kami ng granada. Pagbukas ng pintuan, narinig ko ang granada sumabay sa pagbukas ng pintuan... Pagkatapos pumunta kami sa tindahan, may taong isulod. Pag sulod sa pulis, si Ma'am Susan, sumigaw ng 'Tulong!' 'Yun nilapitan si Ma'am Susan at binaril," he said.

"Isunod sana si Mayor Aldong eh tapos sabi ni Board Member, 'Sir, wag Sir... Maawa kayo.' Tapos 'yun binaril si Board Member. Bumagsak 'yung ulo niya sa hita ni Mayor Aldong tapos binaril din si Mayor Aldong," Cesar added.

He also claimed that cops planted a gun in the hands of Mayor Reynaldo after paraffin test results showed that the deceased government official tested positive for gunpowder.

"Nakita ko na lang na may bitbit 'yung isang pulis na panyo tapos baril tapos nilagay niya sa kamay ni Mayor tapos nilipat din sa kabilang kamay. Pinahawak nila talaga 'yung baril tapos lumabas 'yung pulis bumalik, nilipat na naman sa kabilang kamay," Cesar said.

How he survived

To save himself, Cesar put blood all over his body to show that he was also hit like the other victims.

"Kumuha ako ng dugo para ilagay sa mukha saka sa katawan ko para sabihin talagang may tama ako," Cesar said.

He said he did not immediately go out of the compound as he feared that police might kill him.

"4:30 ng ano lalabas na sana ako kaso medyo madilim pa. Baka makita nila ko... barilin nila ko, lagyan nila ko kung ano nilagay din nila kay Mayor kasi nakita ko kung pano nila nilagay kay Mayor eh," Cesar said.

"Kaya nag-antay ulit ako hanggang mga alas-sais na. Sumilip ako sa may bintana doon sa may tindahan. May nakita kong dalawang pulis kaya doon ako... Gumapang ako papunta sa main door, tapos paglabas ko sa main door, may nakakita sa 'king pulis na naka-blue na polo. Tapos parang na-shock siya, biglang umatras," he added.

"May isang pulis na lumapit sa akin. Hinawakan niya 'yung baril niya na nasa dibdib, akala ko barilin na ko kaya sumigaw ako ng 'Tulong' saka 'Media' para makita nila ako," he added.

Police said the Parojinogs' bodyguards shot at them, triggering an encounter. They have maintained that there was nothing irregular about the raid.

The Philippine National Police-Internal Affairs Service will investigate the raid, a probe that PNP chief Dir. Gen. Ronald Dela Rosa has described as procedural.

Siblings Vice Mayor Nova Princess and Reynaldo Jr., were brought to Camp Crame and were facing charges for violation of Section 11 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act (possession of dangerous drugs) and Section 21 of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act (acquisition or purchase and sale of firearms and ammunition).

They were also charged for violating Section 3-A of Republic Act 9516 or "unlawful manufacture, sales, acquisition, disposition, importation or possession of a part, ingredient, machinery, tool or instrument used or intended to be used for the manufacture, construction, assembly, delivery or detonation." —Anna Felicia Bajo/JST, GMA News