OZAMIZ CITY— Reports from Pangasinan police confirmed their arrest on the identified aunt of the late Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr., her husband and their son last April 19.
The said report mentioned that they have in detention Councilor Rizalina “Peque” Francisco, husband Manuelito alias “Maning” or “Lapad” and son, June alias “Omboy”, ex-chieftain of San Roque, after they were stopped at a checkpoint along a Diversion Road in the village of Brgy. Bangcusay, San Fernando City.
Police C/Supt. Romulo Sapitula, Ilocos police regional director, said the Franciscos were on their way back to Metro Manila with six other people in a rented Toyota Innova when they were stopped.
According to the PNP, the Francisco couple was facing cases for illegal possession of firearms and explosives.
Maning was marked as one of the organizer and planner of the dreaded Parojinog-Kuratong Baleleng Group which had been linked to cases of robbery, extortion, drug trafficking and contract killing.
Another briefer stated that Francisco and his gang is known for its complex and advanced carnapping schemes in which expensive cars are stolen and released to the blackmarket.
Earlier, television reports have said the Franciscos fled to Metro Manila and were allegedly in hiding after a police raid in their house where guns and explosives were recovered.
A PNP report released last year said the Franciscos transferred from one place to another knowing they were being hunted by the police.
A warrant of arrest against the Franciscos was issued by Presiding Judge Edmundo P. Pintac RTC 10th Judicial Region Br. 15, Ozamiz City, here, last Feb. 6 for violation of RA 9516.
The suspects are now detained at the San Fernando Police Station and will be turned-over to the Regional Trial Court, here.
In related news, an arrested village chief of Kinawe, Libona, Bukidnon town, is suspected to have coddled Councilor Ricardo “Ardot” Parojinog who has gone into hiding after the death of his brother and is now declared wanted by police.
SPO4 Noel Oclarit, CIDG-Northern Mindanao chief investigator, said they arrested Cherry Barros and 18 others last Saturday.
A joint team of police and military operatives served a search warrant for Barros but were fired upon as they were about to enter the Barros compound located in Zone 3, Kinawe.
A firefight ensued that lasted for almost an hour and only when they ran out of bullets that the armed men surrendered to the authorities.
Three soldiers were wounded in the confrontation, while 19 individuals were apprehended along with various types of firearms and ammunition confiscated at the crime scene.
Cherry’s husband, Tarcisio and a still unidentified person were said to have escaped following the firefight as operatives continued their pursuit of the suspects who got away.
Oclarit said the two persons who escaped during the raid were possibly hit and wounded owing to a trail of blood responding agents saw on a pavement.
A Bombo Radyo report dated April 21 has recognized the unidentified person as Ricardo “Ardot” Parojinog, basing its report from CIDG Cagayan de Oro Team head Supt. Melgar Devaras who assessed a tip that Parojinog had been staying at the Barros compound, though they could not verify yet if he was one among those who managed to elude arrest.
It can be recalled that the former councilor was included in the most wanted posters put up in this city last year by a group of concerned citizens. The Department of Justice has also placed him under the immigration lookout bulletin.
He has a previous P1-million bounty for his arrest. But in September, last year, President Rodrigo Duterte offered a P5-million bounty for the capture of Parojinog and even encouraged soldiers to go to the mountains and hunt for him when they’re off duty.
Meanwhile, the CIDG said they have established the connection between Parojinog and Barros’ group as true and definite since most of the suspects they arrested have corroborated they are members of the Kuratong Baleleng and have, in fact, come from Ozamiz. (BY MICHAEL MEDINA)
