Partner of Ozamiz City councilor Ardot Parojinog arrested in Parañaque

PNP Chief Dir. Gen. Oscar Albayalde speaks about the arrest of Mena Luansing (in orange t-shirt), live-in partner of Ozamiz City councilor Ricardo “Ardot” Parojinog, in Parañaque City on Sunday, June 3, 2018, during a press conference in Camp Crame on Monday, June 4, 2018. (Jhoanna Ballaran/INQUIRER.net)

Authorities have arrested the live-in partner of Ozamiz City councilor Ricardo “Ardot” Parojinog in a joint operation in Parañaque City, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Dir. Gen. Oscar Albayalde said on Monday.

By virtue of warrants of arrest, joint operatives of Parañaque City Police, PNP Directorate for Intelligence, and National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) collared 34-year-old Mena Luansing in Barangay San Isidro on Sunday morning.

She was arrested together with Jonas Galamitan Cablitas, who allegedly coddled Luansing.

Luansing, who resigned as provincial board member of Misamis Occidental in January, was arrested for the same charges filed against Parojinog: illegal possession of firearms and explosives and violation of Section 3 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act, both with no bail recommended.

Albayalde, however, said the police have yet to establish her role in the illegal drug trade network of the Parojinogs.

“Sa ngayon hindi pa ma-establish ang specific role niya. Lumalabas dito [sa imbestigasyon], kasama siya doon sa warrant of arrest [against Parojinog]. As of this time ‘yung role niya, kung ano talaga, kung ano ang role niya doon sa pag-ikot ng ilegal na droga ay hindi pa ma-establish,” Albayalde said in a press briefing.

(For now her specific role cannot be established yet. It appears in the investigation, she’s included in the warrant of arrest against Parojinog. As of this time, her role, what is really her involvement in the distribution of illegal drugs cannot be established yet.)

It was still unclear if Luansing was with Parojinog when the councilor fled to Manila from Ozamiz City last year after the bloody raid that killed his older brother, the Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr.

Albayalde said Luansing and the younger Parojinog have two kids. He also said police are now coordinating with the Department of Social Welfare and Development for the appropriate custody of the children.

Luansing was arrested barely two weeks after Parojinog was captured in Taiwan, as he tried to enter the country using illegal documents.

Authorities have yet to talk to Parojinog, which remains in detention at Taiwan’s prosecutor’s office.

“As of this time nasa prosecutor’s office siya at bawal ang visitors doon so hindi tayo makapunta doon. I think if they talk and cooperate with law enforcers malalaman natin kung ano talaga, kung paano sila nakalabas at kung sino pa nag-coddle sa kanila,” the PNP chief said.

(As of this time, he’s still detained at the prosecutor’s office and visitors are not allowed so we cannot go there. I think if they talk and cooperate with law enforcers, we will know how they were able to flee the country and who coddled them.)

/kga