The Philippine National Police confirmed on Thursday that the brother of slain suspected drug kingpin Reynaldo Parojinog Sr. would return soon from Taiwan.
PNP Director General Oscar Albayalde said that a police team would fetch Ozamiz City Councilor Ricardo “Ardot” Parojinog from Taiwan, where he fled after he was charged with illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
Arrested by Taiwanese immigration officers on May 23, Parojinog was subsequently convicted for illegal entry and sentenced to a three-month prison term.
P5-million bounty
Parojinog has a P5-million bounty for his capture and has been the subject of a 10-month police hunt after he was included in President Duterte’s “narcolist.”
Albayalde said that Parojinog could be returned to the country as early as Friday, although this depended on the Taiwanese government’s approval of the fugitive’s repatriation.
The PNP chief said a team composed of officers from the Drug Enforcement Group and the Directorate for Intelligence was flying to Taiwan this weekend.
Parojinog is facing the criminal charges in connection with the contraband found by police operatives at his house in the July 30, 2017 raid.
16 killed in raid
Several members of the Parojinog clan, including Ozamiz City Mayor Parojinog Sr., Misamis Occidental board member Octavio Parojinog Jr. and Mona Parojinog, were among the 16 people killed in the raid conducted by operatives of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and local police.
Reynaldo Sr.’s children — Ozamiz City Vice Mayor Nova Parojinog-Echaves and Reynaldo Parojinog Jr. — were arrested and charged with violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition in the Department of Justice.
The slain mayor, his daughter and the councilor were included in President Duterte’s list of politicians accused of involvement in the drug trade.