News Briefs: June 1, 2019
Parojinog scion gets life for illegal drug possession
A local court on Friday meted out a life imprisonment sentence for illegal drug possession to Reynaldo Parojinog Jr., son of slain Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr. Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 79 Judge Nadine Jessica Corazon Fama also ordered the Parojinog scion to pay a fine of P500,000. The court found him guilty beyond reasonable doubt of violating Section 11, Article II of Republic Act No. 9165, which imposes the maximum sentence for possession of 50 grams or more of crystal meth, or “shabu.” On July 30, 2017, Reynaldo Jr. and her sister Nova Parojinog-Echavez were arrested by the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the Ozamiz City police in a bloody raid at the Parojinogs’ residence in Ozamiz, which led to the family patriarch’s death, his wife Susan and of 13 others. Police claimed Parojinog Sr. was killed in a two-hour exchange of gunfire with the politician’s men when they were trying to serve a warrant for the mayor’s alleged involvement in the drug trade. But the Parojinogs’ camp denied having fired a shot at the policemen. —Mariejo S. Ramos
Andaya arraignment over Malampaya scam deferred
The arraignment of former Budget Secretary and now Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. before the Sandiganbayan Third Division was deferred and reset to July 12 due to his pending petition before the Supreme Court. Andaya told the antigraft court on Friday that he had filed a petition asking the court to issue him a temporary restraining order. Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang rescheduled the arraignment and gave the prosecution 10 days to file its comment on the petition. Andaya’s case stemmed from his alleged involvement in the P900-million Malampaya fund scam, which saw government funds meant for typhoon victims supposedly diverted to bogus nongovernmental organizations owned by businesswoman and convicted plunderer Janet Lim-Napoles. Napoles and Andaya’s other coaccused were arraigned earlier this month. The $4.5-billion Malampaya project, started in 2002, involved the extraction of natural gas from waters west of Palawan province. The government’s share was supposed to be used for energy projects, but was expanded to finance programs authorized by Malacañang. Napoles and Andaya face 97 counts each of graft and malversation. —Patricia Denise M. Chiu
Duterte mulls Cabinet post for JV Ejercito
TOKYO—Might there be a place in President Duterte’s Cabinet for defeated senatorial candidate JV Ejercito? The President himself on Thursday hinted that he might just have a job for Ejercito, one of his endorsed senatorial bets in the recently concluded midterm elections. The former senator was one of several political figures present at Mr. Duterte’s meeting with the Filipino community at the Palace Hotel in Tokyo on Thursday night. “Oh, sorry. Sen. JV Ejercito. I’m sorry … I really feel that JV is such a waste,” Mr. Duterte said, referring to the fact that Ejercito lost his reelection bid in last month’s polls. The President added: “Well, anyway, you are still young. There’s a Cabinet position there if one becomes vacant.” However, the Chief Executive did not give any hint as to what department or agency Ejercito might be assigned to. Should the President decide to name Ejercito to a government post, Mr. Duterte must wait for one year before appointing Ejercito. —Julie M. Aurelio
