Ardot Parojinog fled to Taiwan on fishing boat

MANILA, Philippines — Ozamiz Councilor Ricardo “Ardot” Parojinog confirmed reports that he eluded authorities by traveling to Taiwan on  a fishing boat, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said yesterday.

Albayalde said Parojinog mentioned upon his arrival from Taiwan on Friday that two people helped him ride a boat and then transfer to a bigger fishing boat.

Albayalde did not say if Parojinog identified the people who assisted him.

Information gathered from the intelligence community indicated that Parojinog left the Philippines sometime last September, more than a month after his brother Reynaldo, mayor of Ozamis City, and 15 of their relatives and associates were killed in simultaneous raids.

Albayalde said Parojinog’s arrest is a big boost to the government’s campaign against illegal drugs. “It will not only solve illegal drugs but murder cases involving the Parojinogs,” he said.

The PNP chief said pursuit operations for the associates of the Parojinog family are ongoing. “We cannot reveal the names as of this time, but definitely we are pursuing them,” he said.