Parojinogs were not for liquidation — Bato

Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA

The Parojinogs were the subject of a legitimate police operation and not of liquidation, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said on Monday, belying claims that members of the family were murdered.

“They were meant to be operated upon, not liquidated,” dela Rosa said in a press conference.

“Kung nanlaban sila, then nagkaroon ng engkwentro. Wala na tayong control d’yan,” (If they fight back, that would result in encounter. We no longer have control over that),” dela Rosa said.

The police have said that they were serving search warrants for possible illegal firearms at about 2:30 a.m. last July 30, 2017, at six Parojinog properties in Ozamiz City when they were fired upon, prompting them to shoot back.

“Pag sinabi mong pinasok sila para patayin, mahirap naman iyon (If you say that they were meant for assassination, that would not be not right),” he added.

Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog, his wife Susan, brother Octavio Jr., and 12 others where killed in the operation.

Police said Parojinog’s security aides were the first to open fire at the operatives.

However, Ozamiz City legal officer, lawyer Jeffrey Ocang, claimed that the Parojinogs had been expecting themselves to be “liquidated” months before the operation.

He said that Ozamiz City police director Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido had hinted of raids against the family, particularly Vice Mayor Nova Princess Parojinog-Echavez.

Dela Rosa refuted the allegations of Parojinog’s camp, explaining that standard operating procedures were strictly followed in the operation, taking cue from the controversial killing of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa.

CIDG chief Roel Obusan said the case of Espinosa was totally different from the latest raids, except that both targets were mayors and the operations were carried out by the CIDG.

“Ako naman natuto na doon sa operation na nangyari doon sa (I’ve learned a lot in the operation in) Albuera so I will not be committing the same mistake,” said Obusan.

“Matagal namin itong pinagplanuhan (We’ve planned this carefully), in fact we followed all the procedures of the PNP as well as the law.”

Espenido in Ozamis ‘incidental’

Dela Rosa defended Espenido’s participation in the operation, saying that his assignment in Ozamiz was merely “incidental.”

“That operation was launched by CIDG. Incidental lang ang participation ni Espenido doon at ng Ozamiz City. Naging joint operation lang yo’n, but originally, a CIDG operation,” Dela Rosa said.

Espenido, who was the Albuera police chief when Espinosa was killed inside his detention cell, was supposed to be suspended for 90 days early July over a complaint by Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez but Dela Rosa set the order aside.

‘More to come’

Dela Rosa said that the police would continue its anti-illegal drug operations against high-profile drug criminals in the country.

“That should serve as a warning for everyone na ang PNP walang sinasanto pagdating sa enforcement ng batas (that the PNP is relentless in enforcing the law),” he said. “As far as enforcement is concerned, we have no fear or favor. Kung kailangan na ioperate ka, ioperate ka talaga (If you’re targeted, you will really be targeted.”

The police chief did not say who would be targeted next in the anti-drug campaign as it would depend on the tactical and legal factors of the case. CBB/rga