Kuratong Baleleng chief’s family appeal for justice

ILIGAN CITY – The family of slain Kuratong Baleleng leader Renato Parojinog has appealed to higher authorities for a speedy investigation of the killing so that the perpetrators can be brought to justice.

Rosalinda Parojinog, the mother, said they suspect that the political opponents of Renato, who is a Provincial Board Member in Misamis Occidental, could have a hand in the killing. However, even as she said that she could identify the said political opponent she did not name names. She added that they will wait for the outcome of the investigation.

On the other hand, Reynaldo Parojinog, mayor of Ozamis City voiced the same suspicions but added that his brother had received death threats sometime in November last year.

Yesterday, in a radio interview Mayor Parojinog said Renato was in Manila to attend some meetings and follow-up projects for the province of Misamis Occidental. He denied that Renato would attend the court hearing of the alleged Kuratong Baleleng rub-out case.

The remains of Renato wil be brought to Ozamis City tomorrow and will lie in state at his mother’s residence in Barangay Sta. Cruz prior to his interment.

Mayor Parojinog called for calm and sobriety among Renato’s political followers to prevent further trouble. He appealed to them to wait for the outcome of the investigation.

Meanwhile, Mayor Parojinog’s chief of staff Mike Ochate appealed to the media to refrain from using "Kuratong Baleleng gang leader" in identifying Renato. He specifically cited that the word "gang" should not be attached to the name Kuratong Baleleng. "We should give respect to him because he is now dead," he said. He said the KB is not a gang but a group once tasked by the military in its counter insurgency movement in Misamis Occidental in the 1970s. The group has now evolved into helping the poor of Ozamis City and Misamis Occidental.

He added, Renato is a respected member of the Provincial Board who had helped thousands of poor people.

The KB then headed by Octavio Parojinog, their father, was tapped by some military officials to counter the insurgency movement in Misamis Occidental and the nearby provinces of Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur in the 1970s, however, when martial law was lifted following the downfall of former President Ferdinand Marcos, the KB was disbanded by the military officers.

The Parojinog brothers, maintained the KB group even as the insurgency movement in Misamis Occidental had waned during President Corazon Aquino’s presidency until today.

However, Reynaldo, who entered politics in Ozamis City in 1997 became a barangay chairman of Sta. Cruz and was elected president of the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) of that city. He became mayor last year. Renato’s first bid to enter politics in 1997 as a candidate for congressman failed but he was elected as a provincial board member last year. – Lino dela Cruz