(UPDATED) - The Philippine National Police (PNP) confirmed on Thursday, May 24, the arrest of Ricardo "Ardot" Parojinog, younger brother of slain Ozamiz City mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr., in Taiwan.
Athough he has yet to receive a report on the matter, PNP spokesperson Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao said Police Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) director Chief Superintendent Albert Ignatius Ferro confirmed to him the arrest.
Parojinog, a councilor of Ozamiz City, was reportedly arrested by the Taiwan police in Pingtung County around 6 p.m. there on Wednesday, nearly 10 months after he went into hiding.
The PNP tapped the Taiwan police after receiving information about the whereabouts of the mayor’s brother.
Police operatives are about to proceed to Taiwan to receive Parojinog and bring him back to the country.
He was among the subjects of a search warrant for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition used on July 30, 2017 by Northern Mindanao authorities to raid the Parojinog compound and two farms owned by the family in Ozamiz City.
The raid ended with the killing of the Ozamiz mayor, his wife and 13 others. The councilor was not at home at the time.
The mayor’s children Nova Princess, Ozamiz vice mayor, and Reynaldo Parojinog Jr. were arrested during the raid. They are detained on charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives, and illegal drugs.
Malacañang, reacting to the Ozamiz councilor's arrest, promised to bring him to justice if authorities find him guilty of violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. described the Parojinog's arrest as "good news."
"This is good news because first and foremost, what is he (Parojinog) doing there? Why is he hiding in Taiwain, if he has not violated the law? As they say, flight is an evidence of guilt," the Palace official said in a press conference in Marawi.
"We will really make sure that justice will be served, if Council Parojinog violates the law. He will be investigated, brought to trial, and punished for the crime he committed," he added.
The Parojinogs, including Ricardo and Reynaldo, were previously tagged by President Rodrigo Duterte as among the politicians who are in his so-called narco-list.
The Department of Justice in August 2017 included the Ozamiz councilor in the immigration look-out bulletin.
In September last year, the President offered a P5-million bounty for his arrest. (With Ruth Abbey Gita/SunStar Philippines)