A QUEZON City court has rejected the petition of former Ozamiz City vice mayor Nova Princess Parojinog seeking the deferment of presentation of evidence in the drug-related case filed against her for lack of merit.
In an order dated August 14, Quezon City Branch 228 Judge Mitushealla Manzanero-Carino did not give credence to Parojinog’s arguments that her counsels have yet to confer with each another and with her due to the limited visitation hours at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame where she is detained.
Parojinog also said the witnesses they will present, who are mostly from Ozamiz City, have yet to make arrangements for their travel to Metro Manila due to the restrictions on travel due to COVID-19.
She also argued that even if the court conducts proceedings through videoconferencing there is no telling what problems might be encountered in such a set-up since she won’t be able to confer with her lawyers in private. She also noted the difficulty of translating the witnesses’ answers to English, as well as spotty internet connections, particularly those who will testify from the province.
The court dismissed her arguments, saying her claim that the defense counsels have yet to confer with one another in person and with her is a “flimsy excuse.”
The court set the presentation of defense evidence on September 30.
Last March, the same court dismissed Parojinog’s plea seeking the dismissal of the drug case as it junked her petition for demurrer of evidence. A demurrer to evidence is basically a plea to dismiss a case due to weak evidence presented by the prosecution.
The court also said it has been holding videoconferencing hearings since May and has encountered minor problems, adding there was no instance where a hearing was cancelled or stopped midway due to poor internet connection.
It added the conduct of videoconferencing hearing would even be beneficial to Parojinog’s lead counsel who is a senior citizen.
The court also said if Parojinog take thes witness stand, it can allow her counsels to be with her at the PNP Custodial Center during the videoconference hearing.
Parojinog is also facing a case for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition before Branch 95 of the Quezon City RTC.
She and her brother, Reynaldo Parojinog Jr. were arrested in a 2017 police raid that led to the death of their father, Reynaldo Sr., his wife and 12 others.
The operation was led by controversial officer Lt. Col. Jovie Espenido.
Reynaldo Parojinog was sentenced last year to 40 years imprisonment for illegal drugs and is incarcerated at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.
