OZAMIZ CITY--Almost a year of hiding from authorities for drug
trafficking, resigned Councilor Ricardo “Ardot” Parojinog was finally arrested
in Pingtung County, Taiwan Wednesday, May 23, the Philippine National Police
(PNP) confirmed yesterday.
PNP spokesman, C/Supt. John Bulalacao told mediamen that Parojinog’s
arrest came after a joint cooperation was made
between the PNP and its counterpart in Taiwan.
Parojinog was arrested in a raid by Taiwanese police at his rented house
in Donggang, near evening following a tipoff.
Intelligence reports from Interpol revealed that the councilor entered
Taiwan using illegal documents and sought refuge in the fishing village of
Donggang .
Information from Taiwanese police also said they have been tracking Parojinog for illegal
entry since April and located his hideout via his smartphone.
This city's police office has since reported that Ardot had gone into
hiding as early as January, last year, months before the raids were made on
their houses.
The PNP added that Ardot is being investigated and wanted for illegal
possession of high-powered firearms he allegedly kept and was recently seized
by policemen in a raid inside his mrop security
agency office and Dottie's Inn business located here.
The councilor's arrested cohorts tipped off authorities on his
whereabouts, also said Police C/Insp. Jovie Espenido.
As of press time, there is no definite date yet when Parojinog would be
deported from Taiwan.
President Rodrigo Duterte, who has offered a bounty of P5 million for Ardot's
arrest, welcomed the councilor's arrest as a good news and assured Ozamiznons
that Parojinog will be tried in due process for the charges leveled against
him.
When he became president, Duterte tagged the Parojinogs as key players
of illegal drug activities in Ozamiz City and nearby areas.
As for Espenido, Ardot’s arrest was a sort of help from above. He said
in one newspaper interview that with the councilor now in detention, he felt a
finishing point of his worry about Ozamiz. (MICHAEL MEDINA, THE PHILIPPINE
PREVIEW)