THE Philippine National Police (PNP) explained on Wednesday, January 29, that former Ozamiz City vice mayor Nova Princess Parojinog's trip to the Medical City in November 2018 was sanctioned by the court.
Following the conduct of investigation, PNP spokesperson Brigadier General Bernard Banac said that on November 12, 2018, Parojinog was allowed to leave the PNP custodial center to go to the Medical City in Pasig, where she underwent a panoramic dental X-ray at her own expense.
Banac said Parojinog, who is in jail on illegal drug charges, was under guard by custodial security escorts.
Parojinog sought court approval for the trip to the hospital.
“As a matter of procedure, the chief of the Custodial Service Unit rendered a written report to RTC Branch 95 on November 13, 2018 detailing compliance to the Order of the Court,” Banac said.
“It should be understood that the same Court granted a separate motion for furlough filed by detainee Parojinog to visit her detained brother Reynaldo Parojinog Jr. at the Metro Manila District Jail Annex 5 in Bicutan, Taguig City on December 23, 2019,” he added.
Earlier the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 228 ordered the warden of the PNP Custodial Center to explain why Parojinog was allowed to leave her detention cell without the permission of the court where she is charged with possession of illegal drugs.
Nova Princess and her brother Reynaldo Jr., children of the late Ozamiz City mayor Reynaldo Sr., were arrested during a 2017 police raid.
Their parents and 13 others were killed during the said operation which was part of the administrations’ crackdown on illegal drugs.
President Rodrigo Duterte had linked the Parojinog clan to the illegal drugs trade. (SunStar Philippines)