PNP: Ozamiz Councilor Ricardo Parojinog arrested in Taiwan

The brother of slain Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr., Ozamiz Councilor Ricardo “Ardot” Parojinog, was arrested in Taiwan, the Philippine National Police (PNP) confirmed on Thursday, May 24. (File Photo by Keith Allison/Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0)

The brother of slain Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr., Ozamiz Councilor Ricardo “Ardot” Parojinog, was arrested in Taiwan, the Philippine National Police (PNP) confirmed on Thursday, May 24.

“I’m still waiting for the report from the operatives and it was confirmed by Gen Ferro [PNP Drug Enforcement Group director Chief Superintendent Albert Ignatius Ferro] that Ardot Parojinog was allegedly arrested last night by Taiwan Police,” PNP spokesperson Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao said.

Parojinog, who was on the loose for 10 months, was hunted down by authorities for his alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) in August 2017 placed the councilor in the immigration lookout. The DOJ said that Parojinog was not at home when the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) conducted a search in his house where they have found several firearms and ammunition.

Parojinog’s brother, Reynaldo, was killed in a police raid in July 2017, along with 14 others, including his wife Susan, brother Octavio Jr., and sister Mona. Reynaldo was the third town mayor to be killed under President Rodrigo Duterte’s crackdown on illegal drugs.

Meanwhile, the former mayor’s children, then-vice mayor Nova Princess Parojinog, and son Reynaldo Jr., was arrested by the police.

On Tuesday, May 22, former prosecutor Geronimo Marabe Jr., who was part of the Parojinog’s legal defense, was shot dead by four motorcycle-riding men in Ozamiz City.

Police said that Marabe was on board his vehicle when he was assassinated. He died on the way to a hospital.

The President, in September 2017, offered a P5 million reward for the arrest of councilor Parojinog who was at large after a police raid on his residence.

“Kaya itong si Ardot… ito ‘yung gago (This Ardot… he is a jerk). Place him in your arrow,” Duterte said in a speech at the 11th founding anniversary celebration of the Eastern Mindanao Command in Davao City.

“I am increasing the money, the reward money on his head, by P5 million,” he added.