PNP jail warden, lawyers told: Explain Princess Parojinog’s unauthorized 2018 furlough

Nova Princess Parojinog (wearing cap) and her brother Reynaldo Parojinog Jr. File photo by MARIANNE BERMUDEZ / Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines – The Quezon City Regional Trial Court has ordered the jail warden of the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame to explain why former Ozamiz City Vice Mayor Nova Princess Parojinog has managed to go out of jail without a court order.

Aside from the jail warden, also given five days to explain why they should not be cited for contempt of court were the lawyers of Parojinog.

Nova is accused of violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act as well as illegal possession of firearms.

Last Nov. 12, 2018, Nova was able to visit her brother Reynaldo Parojinog Jr. without proper authority from the QCRTC Branch 228.

“…the Jail Warden of the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City and the counsels of the accused are directed to show cause, within five days from receipt of this order, why they should not be cited in contempt in view of the fact that the accused was allowed furlough without the proper authority from this Court/the accused did not seek furlough from this court where she has another pending case,” read the order issued by Presiding Judge Mitushealla Manzanero-Casiño.

The prosecution sought for the issuance of a show-cause order as it opposes another furlough of Nova to visit her brother in Camp Bagong Diwa.

Her brother, Parojinog Jr. was meted with life imprisonment for the 2017 drug bust where authorities confiscated almost 117 grams of shabu or methamphetamine hydrochloride.

READ: Parojinog Jr. gets life for drug possession

QC RTC Branch 79 recently denied his motion for reconsideration and the prosecutors are questioning why he remains in Camp Bagong Diwa instead of being transferred to the New Bilibid Prison.

The prosecutors said Nova’s bid to visit her brother, if allowed, is tantamount to “special treatment.”

“Being a detention prisoner, accused Parojinog should be treated in the same manner as any detention prisoner. If she is to be granted furlough, the public will perceive the same as giving preferential treatment in view of her being a wealthy and influential inmate,” said the prosecutors.

“Should the court give her furlough, then it must grant furlough to thousands of similarly situated detention prisoners. Obviously, this is absurd. Being an absurd proposition, it should perforce be denied,” the prosecutors said.