Parojinog brother nabbed in Taiwan

The fugitive younger brother of slain suspected drug kingpin Reynaldo Parojinog Sr. was arrested on Wednesday night for illegal entry in Taiwan.

Ozamiz City Councilor Ricardo “Ardot” Parojinog, who has a P5-million bounty for his capture, had been the subject of a 10-month police hunt after he was tagged by President Duterte as among the politicians involved in the illegal drug trade.

Malacañang on Thursday welcomed Parojinog’s arrest and said his vain effort to escape arrest was evidence of his guilt.

“This is good news. First of all, what he was doing, hiding in Taiwan, if he did not violate any law. You know the adage, ‘flight is evidence of guilt,’” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said.

Philippine National Police spokesperson Chief Supt. John Bulalacao on Thursday said Parojinog was arrested around 6 p.m. on Wednesday in Taiwan’s Pingtung county.

“He was arrested at 6 p.m. yesterday (Wednesday) for illegal entry in Taiwan,” Bulalacao said in a text message.

Deaths of 16 people

After his repatriation from Taiwan, Parojinog would be arrested for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition in connection with the contraband found by police operatives at his house in a raid on July 30 last year, Bulalacao said.

The raid resulted in the deaths of 16 people, including several members of the Parojinog clan. Among the dead were Ozamiz Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr., his wife Susan, Misamis Occidental board member Octavio Parojinog Jr. and the mayor’s sister, Mona.

The Ozamiz councilor was not at home when the police served search warrants at the Parojinogs’ compound.

Lookout bulletin

Former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II issued a lookout bulletin last year for Councilor Parojinog, who nevertheless fled the country.

Chief Insp. Jovie Espenido, the city police chief, said the councilor was very elusive.

“It was a challenge for the team as he changed vehicles every now and then,” he said.

Espenido said many of the councilor’s henchmen were still in Ozamiz and could threaten those who would testify against him. —JEANNETTE I. ANDRADE AND LEAH AGONOY