MANILA – Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Gen. Camilo Pancratius Cascolan on Friday ordered an investigation on the death of former Ozamiz City councilor Ricardo “Ardot” Parojinog, who was found dead inside his detention cell.
In a press statement, PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said Parojinog was found dead at 6 a.m. Friday while alone inside the detention cell of the Ozamis Police Station, with no signs of violence noted.
Banac said Parojinog was supposed to attend a hearing at the Ozamis City Regional Trial Court on Friday and his travel was covered by a court order.
Banac said Cascolan ordered Police Regional Office (PRO)-10 (Northern Mindanao) director, Brig. Gen Rolando Anduyan, to immediately place the Ozamis Police chief and all night shift duty personnel under restrictive custody to be available for investigation.
Cascolan also ordered for the PNP Custodial Center security team under Lt. Col. Jiger Noceda to be placed under investigation to determine their liabilities.
Member of the scene of the crime operations and the Criminal Investigation Detection Unit in Misamis Occidental are now conducting an investigation on the incident.
Parojinog is charged with illegal possession of firearms and drugs after he was arrested in a July 2017 raid by local police of their clan’s houses.
The operation resulted in the death of 15 persons including his brother, Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr.
Meanwhile, his niece, then vice mayor Nova Princess Parojinog-Echavez was also arrested in the raid. -PNA
