Parojinogs killed in police raid buried in Ozamiz City

Four members of the Parojinog family who were shot to death by police during a raid on their homes were laid to rest in Mt. Malindang Memorial Gardens, Ozamiz City on Wednesday.

According to a report on "24 Oras," the bodies of Ozamiz Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr., his wife Susan Parojinog, and his siblings Provincial Board Member Octavio Parojinog and Mona Parojinog were taken around the city in a funeral procession.

A mass was also held in Ozamiz City Cathedral.

The Mayor's children Vice Mayor Nova Parojinog-Echavez and Reynaldo Parojinog, Jr., who are currently detained at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame, were not allowed to attend the funeral.

In a letter, the siblings expressed their sadness that PNP Director General Ronald Dela Rosa denied their request to attend the wake and funeral.

"Ito na po ang pinakamasakit na kabanata sa aming buhay magkapatid," they wrote.

The Parojinogs were killed during a predawn raid on July 30 when police officers arrived in their compound bearing search warrants. The raid turned violent, resulting in the death of 15 people at the site.

The mayor's nephew Daryl Parojinog, who had been wounded in the raid, later died in hospital, raising the death toll to 16.

A year before, the Vice Mayor and her slain father were named by President Duterte as politicians allegedly involved in drug trade. — Margaret Claire Layug/BM, GMA News