Parojinogs killed in intensified anti-drug campaign — Palace

Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella.

The Duterte administration vowed to intensify its anti-illegal drugs campaign and it led to the killing of alleged narcopolitician Reynaldo Parojinog, mayor of Ozamiz City, and 11 others, Malacañang said on Sunday.

“The administration vowed to intensify the drug campaign. The Philippine National Police (PNP) conducted a raid in the Parojinog residence this morning which led to the arrest of Ozamiz Vice Mayor Nova Princess Parojinog-Echavez and scores of others,” said Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella in a text message to reporters.

READ: Mayor Parojinog killed in Ozamiz raid; daughter arrested — police

“The Parojinogs, if you would recall, are included in PRRD’s list of personalities involved in the illegal drug trade. Authorities will be releasing updates as soon as they become available,” he added, using the acronym of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

Parojinog, his wife Susan, and Misamis Occidental Board member Octavio Parojinog Jr. were all killed after elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Region 10 raided their properties in San Roque Lawis, Ozamis City at about 2:30 a.m. on Sunday.

Nine others, whose identities remain unknown as of posting time, were also slain after Parojinog’s security forces allegedly fired shots at authorities serving search warrants.

Vice Mayor Nova Princess Parojinog-Echavez, meanwhile, was arrested. She was the former girlfriend of Bilibid drug lord Herbert Colanggo.

Authorities reportedly recovered several high-powered firearms and suspected shabu in the properties owned by Parajinog and his family members.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier tagged the Parojinogs as narcopoliticians operating in Mindanao but the mayor denied the claims. CBB/rga