PAROJINOG RAID IN CONNECTION WITH ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF DRUGS, AMMUNITION,

FIREARMS AND EXPLOSIVES

On July 30, 2017, 2:30 am- Members of the Regional Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG),
together with the Misamis Occidental Police Provincial Office and the Ozamiz City Police Station raided the Parojinog
residence. The Parojinogs are among those named by President Rodrigo Duterte in his list of local government
officials allegedly involved in the drug trade. However, the Parojinogs denydenied such accusations. With such
remarks of the President, the Ozamis Police said that they had conducted surveillance on the Parojinog. Upon
collecting probable cause, a search warrant was issued for Mayor Parojinog and her daughter, Vice Mayor Nova
Parojinog, and several other family members. According to a police report, the serving personnel were met with a
volley of fire from the Parojinogs' security personnel, prompting police to retaliate. However Jeffrey Ocang, an aide to
the Parojinogs who are an influential political clan, denied there had been any exchange of gunfire and said the
mayor's camp did not fire a shot. Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog and 14 others, including his wife Susan,
brother Octavio Jr, and sister Mona, were killed. Cops also recovered grenades, ammunition, as well as illegal drugs
in the raid, according to police provincial chief Jaysen de Guzman. Now, the Parojinogs claim that their rights were
abused and unlawful force was used during the raid. Furthermore, the Parojinogs are calling upon all the people who
know them, to attest that they are not what the President portrayed them to be.
In this preceding case, it would seem that several laws were violated. First, Article 3, of the Philippine
Constitution or the Bill of rights. As claimed by the Ozamiz City Police Station Commander Chief Inspector Jovie
Espenido there was no violation of any human rights during the conduct of the raid. It was only interpreted that there
was a violation and it was claimed to be extrajudicial killing since there was exchange of fires from both parties.
However, the authorities claim that they did so lawfully, since the group of the accused initiated the exchange of fires.
If it is true that there was a violation of said human rights then it is tantamount to saying that there is no body of law
anymore since the very people who must be upholding it are violating it. However, if it is true that there was no
violation of human rights, then it reaffirms confidence to the PNP on how they handle these situations. Since in the
past administrations, PNP has always been scrutinized by the public. Such claim of violation of the right, either inflicts
more fear or confidence that said drug was is effective, depending whether human rights are really violated or not.
Secondly, based on the facts during the conduct of the raid, by what unlawful objects recovered, it would
seem that the Parojinogs clearly violated RA 9165 Section 11. Possession of Dangerous Drugs. According to the
case of Lopez v. People of the Philippines (GR. 172953, April 30, 2008), prosecutions for illegal possession of
prohibited drugs necessitates that the elemental act of possession of a prohibited substance be established with moral
certainty, together with the fact that the same is not authorized by law. The dangerous drug itself constitutes the very
corpus delicti of the offense and the fact of its existence is vital to a judgment of conviction. With the illegal drugs
recovered with in the residence of the Ozamis Mayor and Vice Mayor, it denotes the notion that Even public officials,
who are deemed to uphold the law, violate the very thing they should be abiding with in order to be a model citizen.
With such, it imposes a question to the people whether or not public officials can be trusted.

Allegedly, another law violated was that of PNP Operations Manual Rule 8use of firearm during police
operations. Jeffrey Ocang, an aide to the Parojinogs denied there had been any exchange of gunfire and said the
mayor's camp did not fire a shot. However, according to a police report, the serving personnel were met with a volley
of fire from the Parojinogs' security personnel, prompting police to retaliate. With conflicts in statements between the
PNP and the Parojinog camp, this violation is still under scrutiny. If ever there was an unlawful use of firearms during
said raid, it raises a question whether said raids are done within protocols set forth by the law. This imposes a fear on
the part of the public whether police officers are abusing their power or not.

With the claim of the PNP police that the Parojinog camp indeed retaliated the supposed serving only of
warrants by firing shots before said warrant was even served, it would seem that said firearms used by the Parojinogs
and all other illegal firearms, ammunitions and grenades recovered on site, is a blunt violation of Section 28, Article 5
of RA 10591or unlawful acquisition, or possession of firearms and ammunition. However, though the Parojinogs
claimed that said firearms were issued, according to People v. Molina (GR No. 115835-36, july 22, 1998) In crimes
involving illegal possession of firearms, the prosecution has the burden of proving the elements thereof: (1) the
existence of the subject firearm; and (2) the fact that the accused, who owned or possessed the firearm, did not have
the corresponding license or permit to possess or carry the same outside his residence.

Lastly, with the grenades recovered during the raid, it is said to be a violation of RA 9516, SEC 3-A or
unlawful manufacture, sales, acquisition, disposition, importation or possession of a part, ingredient, machinery, tool or
instrument used or intended to be used for the manufacture, construction, assembly, delivery or detonation of any
explosive or incendiary device. The law so provides that possession of such explosive or incendiary devices is
prohibited. Furthermore, that the law provides that possession of any part, ingredient, machinery, tool or instrument
directly used in the manufacture, construction, assembly, delivery or detonation of any explosive or incendiary device,
by any person whose business activity, or employment does not lawfully deal with the possession of such article shall
be prima facie evidence that such article is intended to be used by that person in the unlawful/illegal manufacture,
construction, assembly, delivery or detonation of an explosive or incendiary device. Since, the Parojinogs do not have
any business or engagements that involve lawful dealings of said objects, then the law provides that such articles are
presumed to be intended to be used illegally. Again, this is another factor that raises the question whether said family
is really innocent.
With the arrest of Parojinog family, who is considered to be one of the most influential clan in Ozamis City, it
badly reflects on the Political System in the Philippines. The fact this family has held public office for years without
raising any concern or case that they are indeed violating laws, and then it only implies that the Philippine Political
System is indeed corrupted. It goes to show that political dynasty is detrimental to our political system. A system of
check and balance is negated since blood relatives are running the whole office. Furthermore, if there be illegal acts, it
makes them easier to conceal since, by human nature, families do stick together and back each other up. Moreover, it
affects the society of Ozamis or the Philippines as a whole, since the very people who should be upholding the law,
are the very people violating it. Such actions of said public officials would probably cause a ripple effect, thus affecting
the minorities of the society, since such acts constitutes as well, abuse of power.
With these shocking turn of events as a result of the war against drugs of President Duterte, it slowly reveals
how drugs, per se, has infiltrated our society. What seemed to be a minor issue in the past administration is now the
biggest problem of the current administration. For years, it was not visible to the public eye how catastrophic the drug
problem of the Philippines really is. It was not publicly tackled nor addressed. However, to date, it seemed that this
problem is intertwined with every major problem in the society, from corruption to poverty.

Furthermore, how the raid was done raised questions as to whether there was indeed a violation of human
rights. Such, being the main ammunition of the anti-Ddutertes and attacking his war on drugs campaign by
questioning the lawfulness of its implementation. The Parojinog raid, was a happening that may determine whether or
not, the current administration has crossed beyond the powers of the law in implementing its goaltotal eradication of
drugs in the Philippines. But the question still remains, will the end justify the means?

Sources:
1. http://www.rappler.com/nation/177147-ozamiz-mayor-parojinog-killed-police-raid

2. http://www.bomboradyo.com/pnp-ozamizno-human-rights-violation-sa-parojinog-anti-drug-ops/

3. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/920480/philippine-news-updates-ozamiz-city-vice-mayor-nova-parojinog-drugs-
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