Ex-Parojinog security head, one other killed in Mandaue

CEBU, Philippines — At least two men, including the former head security of Ozamiz City Vice Mayor Nova Parojinog, were shot dead by unidentified assailants while one was hit by a stray bullet in Barangay Cubacub, Mandaue City last Sunday evening.

Senior Superintendent Julian Entoma, chief of Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO), said two unidentified assailants fled through a getaway motorcycle leaving Renan Mabida, 35, and Mark Lester Castillo, 40, dead past 9 p.m., Sunday.

The victims are renting a room in one of the apartments in Barangay Cubacub. Castillo is a native of San Roque, Ozamiz City, Negros Occidental based on his Comelec identification card.

Hurry Altirado, a resident of Barangay Canduman, who was walking near the area was hit by a stray bullet in his arm and is now in stable condition after he was rushed to North General Hospital.

Investigation revealed that Castillo and Mabida, who were on a motorcycle, were meeting someone in a taxicab at corner of H. Abellana Street in the barangay when one of the two unknown assailants walked towards them and shot the victims several times.

The assailant walked away and took a motorcycle that was parked near the street and fled.

"Niduol raman sa ilaha. Nakita nga naay transaction sa usa ka taxi. Ang nahitabo, gipusil sila dayon ang taxi nisutoy na dayon og dagan," Entoma said.

Castillo managed to run across the street but the assailant chased him and shot him again several times.

Castillo was said to be part of the Kuratong Baleleng group based on the information that Entoma received from their police counterparts in Ozamiz City.

He was also a former chief security of Parojinog who was arrested for illegal drugs involvement in the city.

"Nalista ni siya sa illegal drugs watch list sa Ozamiz City unya, naging chief security daw ni si Mark Lester Castillo, ni Vice Mayor Nova Parojinog. Ingun ana iyahang personal identification sa Ozamiz City. Kami, sa Mandaue, na bigla gyud mi kay kalit raman nga dinhi siya nahitabo," Entoma explained.

He also disguised as a seaman who works abroad and he spends so much in cockfights.

"Galante daw kaayo ni. Nagsugod ni hantod March, hantod election sa barangay officials. Ilaha ni napansin nga galante, bisan og mapildi sa sabungan, mobangka pa daw inom sa Cubacub ug maghatag og kwarta sa mga kainom," Entoma said.

Mabida is Castillo's alleged companion of the illegal activity.

The victims may be hiding after the downfall of the Parojinog but still continued to sell drugs.

"Subject for neutralization sila kay they are alleged to be the illegal drug courier ni Nova Parojinog. Dili lang carrier og ginagmay nga sachets, dinagko ilahang pagdala og drugas," Entoma said.

On why the two were shot dead, Entoma said the two are involved in illegal drugs and the possible motive may be competition with another drug group.

"Ang pinaka-involved ani kay ang illegal drugs. Ang motive kay bangayan siguro sa territory. It can be nga naay taga diri sa Mandaue nga local group nga nasuko. Then sila nahulog nga superior kay dinagko man," he said.

Recovered from the crime scene were a piece of earring, two cellphones, a disposable lighter, the motorcycle used by the victims and 10 empty shells.

Entoma said the investigators of MCPO-Station 6 are now looking for the taxi driver.

On the other hand, Chief Superintendent Debold Sinas, director of Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) directed lower units to strengthen its intelligence gathering to prevent entry of ‘Ozamiz boys’ connected to the Parojinogs.

“Investigate and check why naa taga Ozamiz. Strengthen intelligence monitoring and if naa nahabilin nga Ozamiz boys,” Sinas said.

The Parojinogs are allegedly behind the Kuratong Baleleng syndicate responsible for a series of holdups and robberies. Last year, their house in Ozamiz City was raided by cops following leads of their involvement in illegal drugs.

Police seized bulk of drugs from their house.

Sinas said that the links to Parojinogs should be investigated since there is a possibility that they have transferred their operations in Central Visayas, specifically in Cebu.

“Natingala mi, why naa taga-Ozamiz diri nakasulod. Wala pa mi kabalo kung dugay na sila. We are suspecting basin namalhin sila. As to who killed them, we do not know. Kay basin nag-unay unay lang,” he said.

Arrested

Meanwhile, Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) arrested Jaime Estrella, a 22-year-old 'high-value target' in an anti-illegal drug operation in C.Padilla Street, Barangay Duljo Fatima, Cebu City Sunday afternoon.

Seized from the suspect is one large pack of shabu worth more than P1.1 million Estrella yielded, a large pack of suspected shabu worth more than P1 million.

Based on reports, Estrella is a new player since he is not listed in CCPO's drug watchlist.  However, with the amount of drugs seized, he is considered a HVT. (FREEMAN)