AT LEAST 14 more persons were arrested in the aftermath of the bloody raid that killed Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr. and 14 others on Sunday, July 30 in Ozamiz City.
Set to face appropriate charges in court following their arrest are Jonard Arciaga, Nicolas Alburo, Manuel Paran, Lolito Jamago Jr., Lolito Jamago III, Mercelito Bitonio, Daryl Parojinog, Jerex Lamoren, Regie Robles, Federico Manon-og, Juan Segismundo, Lucky Lo Bindong, Cristofel Margaha and Joshua delos Santos.
Senior Inspector Julie Garcia, spokesperson of the Misamis Occidental provincial police office, said they are yet to determine the relation of the suspects to the Parojinogs, though some of them were known as `caretakers’ of the family.
"Yung iba caretakers yung iba nandoon sa loob ng bahay pero nakuhanan sila ng evidences na don binase ang kasong isasampa sa kanila," Garcia said.
The suspects, Garcia said, will be charged with either illegal possession of firearms and ammunition (RA 10591); illegal possession of explosives (RA 9516), and drug charges (RA 9165).
As of posting, the arrested suspects have reportedly undergone inquest proceedings, Tuesday, August 1.
Meanwhile, Garcia said the raiding team’s cutting of the close circuit television camera (CCTV) was intentionally made to protect the identities of the confidential agents, including the so-called "alpha" men and other witnesses who joined the deadly operation.
But, Garcia said the CCTV had not been destroyed and the hard disk remains intact so authorities can present them should there be any investigation on the matters.
"Di po sinira ang hard disk, tinanggal lang for security purposes. Intact pa rin ang hard disk at willing na i-present ito kung may investigation para transparent ang ating kapolisan,"Garcia said.
Garcia, however, stressed the CCTV may have not captured the circumstances of the operation since power interruption interfered.
Garcia added that Ozamiz policemen have been forewarned to double the efforts in implementing the target hardening measures as well as in securing vital installations in case of possible retaliatory attacks from the Parojinogs' supporters and sympathizers.
"Wala po namang threat ng retaliation pero di po natin maiwasan yan kaya doble pa rin efforts natin," Garcia said.
Also, Garcia said the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the Scene of the Crime Operatives have yet to submit reports on the inventory of the confiscated items and evidences including the autopsy results of the fatal raid casualties.