Ozamiz mayor, vice mayor surrender; post bail for graft

MANILA, Philippines — Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr. and his daughter Vice Mayor Nova Princess Parojinog-Echavez surrendered Monday before the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan to post bail for a graft case.

 

Arriving with their lawyer Charles Michael Puno and some security escorts, Parojinog and Echavez each posted P30,000 bail before the court's Fifth Division at around 9:30 a.m. The father and daughter have also filled up several registration documents.

 

Parojinog and Echavez immediately left the Sandiganbayan premises after undergoing the bail procedures.

 

According to the Fifth Division Office of the Clerk of Court, Parojinog and Echavez posted their bail even before the arrest warrants were served to them by the Philippine National Police and the Sandiganbayan Sheriff's Office.

 

RELATED: Sandigan orders arrest of Ozamiz mayor, vice mayor for graft

 

In a resolution dated January 31, released to the media over the weekend, the Fifth Division said it found sufficient grounds to order the arrest of Parojinog and Echavez in order to hold them on trial.

 

Sandigan orders arrest of Ozamis City mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr. & daughter, vice mayor Nova Princess Parojinog-Echavez @PhilippineStar pic.twitter.com/rEd5PPMURh

— Elizabeth T. Marcelo (@marcelo_beth) February 5, 2017

 

The graft case against Parojinog and Echavez stemmed from the alleged anomalous awarding of a contract for the renovation of Ramiro Gymnasium, a multi-purpose building in Lam-An, Ozamis City in 2008.

 

The contract was supposedly awarded to Parojinog & Sons Construction Company (PSCC) in which Nova Princess, who at that time was still a private individual, was serving as a managing partner.

 

Under Section 3 (h) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, a public official is prohibited from having direct or indirect financial or pecuniary interest in any business, contract, or transaction that his office is entering into.

 

"The court is convinced that the prosecution presented ample evidence to support a finding of probable cause, hence the accused must be arrested and brought to trial," the court said in its resolution.

 

Parojinog was among the local officials named by Duterte in July 2016 as allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade.

 

Duterte also named Nova Princess as the “wife” of high-profile Bilibid inmate Herbert Colanggo.

 

Parojinog Sr. had earlier denied involvement in the illegal drug trade, t admitted that his daughter may have a “relationship” with Colanggo. Nova Princess' marriage from former husband was annulled.