Former President Aquino urges review of Ozamiz raid

MANILA, Philippines — Former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III on Tuesday urged authorities to review the anti-illegal drug raid against a political clan of Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental.

Aquino particularly urged a probe on the death of Ozamiz Mayor Reynaldo “Aldong” Parojinog Sr. and 14 others as he cast doubts on the police operation.

“‘Yung mga kinauukulan dapat matignan nila ito. Any time may loss of life, maski successful ang unang operation sasabihin ‘ano ba magagawa natin dito para maganda yung susunod na operasyon?’” Aquino said during a recorded ambush interview.

“May pagkukulang ba tayo dito? May sumobra ba tayo dito?” he added.

Aquino was heavily criticized over the Mamasapano clash in 2015, when at least 60 Filipinos, including 44 Special Action Force commandos, were killed in a firefight in a remote Maguindanao town in January of that year. The firefight happened after a covert raid against international terrorists hiding in Mamasapano town.

That incident was probed by a Philippine National Police board, the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Office of the Ombudsman in July ordered the former president charged with usurpation of authority and graft over the clash. 

Ozamiz raid

Early Sunday, members of the Philippine National Police and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group armed with search warrants raided homes of Parojinog.

The raid on Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr’s house resulted in his and his wife Susan’s deaths.  His brother, Provincial Board Member Octavio Parojinog Jr., and sister Mona were also killed.

Ozamiz Vice Mayor Nova Parojinog Echaves was arrested in a separate raid, where authorities seized firearms and shabu.

The Commission on Human Rights has already commenced its investigation into the implementation of the search warrant and the use of deadly force against the Parojinogs.

“Nasa Saligang Batas ang tungkulin ng gobyerno na pangalagaan ang bawat mamamayan,” the former president said.