No foul play? Ex-Ozamiz City councilor Parojinog found dead in jail

Ozamiz City Councilor Ricardo “Ardot” Parojinog captured in Taiwan. (File photo from the Office of the PNP chief)

MANILA, Philippines — Former Ozamiz City Councilor Ricardo “Ardot” Parojinog was found dead inside the detention facility of the city’s police station Friday morning, Philippine National Police (PNP) said.

Former Ozamiz City Councilor Ricardo “Ardot” Parojinog was found dead inside his cell. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

“Parojinog was found dead at 6:00 a.m. today while alone inside the detention cell of Ozamis Police Station. No violence was noted,” PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said in a statement.

Banac said the former councilor was supposed to attend a hearing at Ozamiz City Court this Friday.

PNP chief Gen. Camilo Cascolan has ordered an investigation on Parojinog’s death , Banac said.

Cascolan also ordered Police Regional Office 10 chief Brig. Gen. Rolando Anduyan to place the Ozamiz City police chief and all night duty personnel under restrictive custody for their availability for investigation.

Banac said the security team of the PNP custodial center under Lt. Col. Jiger Noceda will also face an investigation.

To recall, President Rodrigo Duterte linked the Parojinogs to the illegal drug trade in Northern Mindanao.

Parojinog was captured in Taiwan in May 2018 and deported back to the Philippines after two months.

ARDOT PAROJINOG BACK IN PH / JULY 27, 2018
PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde talks to Fugitive Ozamiz City Councilor Ricardo ‘Ardot’ Parojinog upon arrival in NAIA Terminal 2, Pasay City after he was deported from Taiwan. Parojinog has P5-million bounty for his capture and has been subject to a 10-month police hunt after he was included in President Duterte’s narcolist.
INQUIRER PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES

Parojinog’s arrest came days after authorities raided his office where several firearms and illegal drugs were recovered.

In July 2019, Parojinog sought the Supreme Court’s protection, saying he is receiving threats from the PNP.

The late Ozamiz Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr. (Photo from his Facebook account)

Parojinog is the brother of former Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog who was killed along with 14 others during a bloody raid in San Roque Lawis in Ozamiz City in July 2017.

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