Palace welcomes arrest of Ozamiz Councilor Ardot Parojinog in Taiwan

Malacañang on Thursday welcomed the arrest of fugitive Ozamiz City Councilor Ricardo “Ardot” Parojinog by authorities in Taiwan.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Parojinog would be flown back to the Philippines and may be detained at the Philippine National Police (PNP) National Headquarters in Camp Crame.

“Sisiguraduhing magkakaroon ng katarungan, iimbestigahan at lilitisin [siya] para sa mga kasong iyan,” Roque said in a televised press briefing in Marawi City.

(We assure that there will be justice, and he will be investigated and tried for his cases.)

PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. John Bulalacao confirmed to reporters the arrest of Parojinog, who had reportedly been in hiding since his older brother, Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr., was slain in a bloody drug raid in July last year.

The younger Parojinog was being hunted down for his alleged involvement in the illegal drugs trade as well as other unlawful activities.

Bulalacao said councilor Parojinog tried to enter Taiwan using illegal immigration documents.

Parojinog’s arrest came five days after the police’s raid in his office and inn in Pagadian City, which yielded cache of high-powered firearms and illegal drugs. /vvp

READ: Fugitive Ozamiz City dad ‘Ardot’ Parojinog arrested in Taiwan