Court junks bid of Parojinog son to void firearms case

A Quezon City court has dismissed the demurrer to evidence filed by Reynaldo Parojinog Jr. in his illegal possession of firearms case.

Parojinog Jr. and his sister, Ozamiz City Vice Mayor Nova Parojinog, were charged with illegal possession of firearms and possession of illegal drugs after they were arrested in a July 2017 raid on their home in which their father, Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog, and 14 others were killed.

Parojinog Jr. was found guilty of possession of illegal drugs in May last year. Police said they also found in his possession two pistols and a shotgun.

In contesting the three counts of illegal possession of firearms before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 105, Parojinog claimed that the search warrant in the 2017 raid was illegally obtained and implemented and that he had a license to carry firearms.

But Acting Presiding Judge Editha Mina-Aguba wrote in her order, “It cannot be denied that the subject firearms loaded with ammunition were found and subsequently seized and confiscated during the implementation of the search warrant. Said articles were found and seized in the presence of the accused’s wife and daughter, and an old lady, who are the lawful occupants of the house.”