Former Ozamiz City councilor Ricardo “Ardot” Parojinog died in his detention cell in Ozamiz police station last 4 September 2020. Citing results of a medical examination, Northern Mindanao Police Director PBGen Rolando Anduyan said that the cause of death was “cardiopulmonary arrest secondary to cardiovascular disease.” Parojinog had been detained at the PNP Custodial Center – Camp Crame in Quezon City and was only flown to Ozamiz on 3 September 2020 to attend a hearing.

Two days after his death, his elder sister Melodina Parojinog Malingin, who has been in detention in Ozamiz City since 2017, died at the MHARS Medical Center allegedly due to “cardiogenic shock secondary to intractable cardiac arrhythmia atrial fibrillation to ventricular tachycardia” according to attending physicians. Both Parojinogs are siblings of Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo “Aldong” Parojinog who was killed with 15 others in a police raid in July 2017. The Parojinogs have been tagged as politicians involved in illegal drug trade.

The State has the obligation to guarantee the dignity and rights of persons in custody. The life and physical integrity of persons deprived of liberty (PDL) is the responsibility of detaining authorities. Regardless of the presumed cause, death under custody necessitates an independent investigation. This helps prevent similar incidents from happening while ensuring the security of other prisoners.

In light of the manner of death of other members of the Parojinog clan that precede these two new cases, an impartial investigation is expedient to conclusively determine the cause of death. This shall help dispel concerns of inadequate care, ill-treatment, and/or foul play. The bereaved kin must also be given an impartial and objective information and the public must be reassured of the fidelity of concerned authorities in upholding their obligations towards PDLs.

Given these incidents and other previous reports of deaths in detention, we remind the government and concerned agencies of their obligation to protect the rights and dignity of detainees. Considering that they are deprived of liberty, control and responsibility of their fate relies on detaining authorities and all those in-charge of managing detention facilities. Preventing deaths in detention is a key part of this obligation.

For our part, we shall conduct an independent probe for the just resolution of these deaths.