Killing of Ozamiz judge not necessarily linked to Parojinog case — PNP spox

The killing of Ozamiz City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Executive Judge Edmundo Pintac on Monday afternoon is not necessarily linked to the case of the Parojinog siblings, Nova and Reynaldo Jr., who are facing drug related-charges, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Tuesday.

“Definitely [kasama kaso ni Parojinog sa tinitignan], pero hindi lamang 'yung mga kaso ng Parojinog. We should not limit it at that. Si judge ay maraming kasong hinahawakan, kaya titingnan natin kung anu-ano ang mga anggulo,” PNP spokesperson Benigno Durana told reporters.

Durana said the PNP's Region 10 Unit has already organized a Special Investigation Task Group to be led by Misamis Occidental Provincial Director Emmanuel Hebron.

“We will look closely into the case and bring the suspects behind bars of justice,” Durana added.

The PNP, however, admitted that they have yet to reach out to the family of the late judge since they are still grieving.

“It is prudent for the investigators to give the family a little space para for them to grieve before our investigators can sit down with them and ask if there are death threats so that we can narrow down the possible motives and at the same time the possible suspects,” Durana said.

According to police accounts, Pintac was killed by unidentified gunmen while the judge was about to go home.

In August 2017, Pintac denied the Parojinog siblings' motion to allow them to attend the wake of their parents,Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo and Susan Parojinog, who were killed in a bloody police raid in July 2017.

Prior to the death of the Parojinog couple, President Rodrigo Duterte identified Mayor Parojinog as a drug lord.

Aside from the Parojinog couple, 10 others were killed in the said police operation.

The police said they were met with resistance by Parojinog and his crew during the raid. — RSJ, GMA News