DoJ rejects complaint against dead Parojinogs
A COMPLAINT filed by police forces against slain Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog, Sr. and his wife Susan Parojinog was rejected by default by the Department of Justice (DoJ) following the Revised Penal Code (RPC).
Article 89 of the RPC cites that “criminal liability is totally extinguished by death of the convict,” but the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Northern Mindanao (PNP-CIDG) issued a complaint against the deceased Parojinog couple.
In their complaint, the PNP-CIDG alleged that the Parojinog couple violated Republic Act (R.A.) 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002, R.A. 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, and R.A. 9516 on Illegal Possession of Explosives.
The complaint is dated Aug. 11, almost two weeks after the bloody raid at the Parojinog residence in Ozamiz City last July 30. The Ozamiz mayor and his wife, together with 14 others, were killed in the course of that raid.
Police said they were implementing a search warrant issued by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court when they were shot at from the direction of the Parojinog home, prompting them to open fire.
Police thereafter seized several packs of suspected shabu, a caliber 5.7×28 Fredericksburg pistol, three rifle grenades, 58 live ammunition of caliber 5.7, a total of P362,440 in various denominations and one Lockvault diplomat model. The confiscated illegal drugs and firearms were the basis of the complaint against the slain couple.
In a related development, Ozamiz City Police Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido yesterday appeared at the Department of Justice (DoJ) for a hearing on the multiple murder and arbitrary detention complaint filed against him and three others in connection with that raid.
Others named respondents in the complaint are Chief Inspector Glyndo Lagrimas, Senior Police Officer 4 Renato Martir, Jr., and Police Officer 1 Sandra Louise Nadayag.
Investigating Prosecution Attorney Loverhette Jeffrey Villordon gave Mr. Espenido and the other respondents until August 29 to submit their counter-affidavit. — Kristine Joy V. Patag
