PNP: Ozamiz Mayor Parojinog, 7 others test positive for powder burns

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

Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr. tested positive for paraffin tests, Philippine National Police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Dionardo Carlos said on Thursday.

“Positive for paraffin test or gunpowder nitrates si Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog at iba pa ho nilang kasama….Si Mayor meron po siyang two gunshot wounds sa chest at face,” he said in a press briefing

Based on the report forwarded by Crime Laboratory Region 10, seven others tested positive for gunpowder nitrate.

The predawn police raid last Sunday killed Parojinog and 14 others, including some members of his family.

Police said that while serving the warrant, they were met with gunfire as they were about to enter the Parojinogs’ houses.

“It will help determine kung firearms were used or a firearm was nearby the body and again hindi siya conclusive but it helps in the investigation,” Carlos said when asked on the importance of paraffin tests.

“It will show us the firearms that were recovered in the premises were used. There was a gunbattle, there was an exchange of hunfire and will reinforce na meron nagpalitan ng putok kasi nandun po sa loob ng premises yung mga katawan na nag positive sa gunpowder burns,” he also said.

President Rodrigo Duterte has earlier tagged the Parojinogs as part of the narcopoliticians in Mindanao. JE