Gov’t prosecutors indict Parojinogs for drug possession, illegal firearms and explosives

August 3, 2017

Government prosecutors on Thursday indicted the two children of Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr. who were arrested during police raids in their home last Sunday, for possessing illegal drugs, firearms and explosives.

In a 14-page resolution, the justice department’s panel of prosecutors led by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera filed the charges  against Vice Mayor Nova Princess Parojinog - Echavez and her brother Reynaldo Jr. before the Ozamiz Regional Trial Court.

The indictment came after prosecutors found probable cause in the complaint filed by the police criminal investigators.

"Respondent Nova Princess Parojinog is not a licensed firearms holder of any kind of caliber based on (PNP firearms and licensing division records). There is, therefore, no recourse but rot find probable cause against respondent Nova Princess Parojinog for illegal possession of light weapon and ammunition," the resolution stated.

The drug charges stemmed from plastic sachets containing shabu seized from the siblings during the raid done Sunday morning at the home of Mayor Parojinog, which resulted in the death of 16 persons  The mayor and his wife were among the casualties

Citing the plain view doctrine, prosecutors indicted the Parojinogs  for drug possession even if the search warrant used for the raids was only for illegal firearms.

"The searching officers positively testified that they clearly saw in plain view the illegal drugs while they were searching for firearms which were both in the constructive custody of respondent Nova Princess Parojing. These is probable cause to separately charge respondent Nova Princess Parojinog for illegal possession of dangerous drugs," the resolution stressed. DMS