40 Ozamis City Barangay Officials in the Aftermath of the Parojinog Raid

Before the 24-hour ultimatum issued by Ozamis City C/Insp. Jovie Espenido to the supporters of the Parojinog family, a number of Barangay Captains from within the city surrendered to the authorities yesterday.

Lam-An Barangay Captain Romeo Raagas was one of the attendants who convinced them to face Espenido. In an interview with Radio Mindanao Network (RMN), Raagas claimed that more or less 40 captains met and talked with Espenido.

Upon being asked by the reporter regarding the Parojinogs’ involvement in drugs and being in President Duterte’s watch list, Raagas denied the allegations. According to him, in all his long years of public service, he had never heard or known the late Mayor Parojinog to have been involved in illegal narcotics.

He also added that Parojinog even once encouraged the captains to still continue the war against drugs even after Duterte has finished his term as president because this [involve] the future of parents and the youth, and that the only way they can give back [to the public] is by guiding the youth.

The reason they surrendered, according to Raagas, was that they were concerned about their safety and wanted to have their names cleared and not because they admitted they were involved in illegal drugs.

He also expressed his wish for Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog to have a respectable funeral.

Out of 51 barangays in the city, only 40 Barangay Captains of the city were present because others were busy.

Meanwhile, Espenido clarified that he did not force the Barangay Captains to surrender. Instead, they volunteered and were willing to give up.

"Lilinawin natin na kusa silang sumuko at hindi ko sila pinatawag", Espenido said.

Espenido, who had come back to work immediately after his 90-day suspension was cancelled, gave clear and explicit warnings to the people against supporting drugs and drug lords.