MANILA – The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will include the latest death of another member of the Parojinog family in its investigation on the death of drug suspect and former Ozamis city councilor Ricardo "Ardot" Parojinog.
Justice secretary Menardo Guevarra said the NBI will consider the health condition of the Parojinogs, including Ricardo’s elder sister, Melodina "Apyat" Parojinog-Malingin, who died on September 6.
"As to another Parojinog sibling (Melodina) dying in jail, I will ask the NBI to include it in their preliminary inquiry," Guevarra said.
He said the NBI inquiry will look into the health condition of the two members of Parojinog family before their death.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Gen. Camilo Cascolan, on Monday said the Parajinog siblings died due to health complications
Cascolan said Ricardo died due to cardiopulmonary arrest secondary to cardiovascular disease on Sept. 4 while under police custody.
Citing reports of the Ozamis City police, Cascolan said Melodia died due to cardiogenic shock secondary to “intractable cardiac arrhythmia atrial fibrillation to ventricular tachychardia secondary to massive gastrointestinal bleeding secondary to uremic gastropathy” at the Mayor Hilarion A. Ramiro Sr. (MHARS) Medical Center in Ozamis City.
Melodia had since been under detention while awaiting trial for her drug case along with husband, Gaudencio.
The couple were arrested when police found eight kilograms of shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) in their possession during a search of their home on Dec. 6, 2017.
Parojinog is charged with illegal possession of firearms and drugs after he was arrested in a July 2017 raid by local police on their clan's houses.
The operation resulted in the death of 15 persons including his brother, Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr.
His niece, then vice mayor Nova Princess Parojinog-Echavez, was also arrested in the raid. (PNA)
