MANILA, Philippines — The legal counsel of Vice Mayor Nova Princess Parojinog-Echavez thought that slain members of the family were brutally massacred based on the details of the dubious police operation.
“From all indications, there were lapses that resulted in 16 deaths. I would qualify that as a massacre by any standard,” lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, head of the family's legal team, told ANC Headstart on Thursday morning.
Topacio also agreed that it was a rubout contrary to the claims of the raiding team of the Philippine National Police-Crime Investigation and Detection Group that they were met with volleys of fire from the security of Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr.
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“Yes for me (rubout). Based on the facts, the way the search warrant was served and the excess police brutality,” the well-seasoned lawyer continued.
Topacio also refuted information that the Parojinogs had a private army but admitted there were some barangay watchmen guarding the compound since the mayor’s security detail was pulled out prior to the incident.
He said that less force should have been used if the raiding team only wanted to serve search warrants against the family.
“There are so many ways even if you are dealing with an armed group. There are so many ways to neutralize them without resulting in so many deaths. There’s tear gas, you can surround them, they can surround the compound, and you can bring negotiators,” Topacio said.
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Topacio, meanwhile, welcomed the statement of PNP Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa to investigate the bloody operation.
Aside from the mayor, his wife Susan and Misamis Occidental board member Octavio Parojinog Jr. were among those who were killed while his daughter Vice Mayor Nova Princess Parojinog-Echavez and son Reynaldo Parojinog Jr. were charged with illegal possession of firearms and illegal drugs and are detained at Camp Crame in Quezon City.