MANILA (UPDATE) - A Quezon City court has sentenced the son of slain Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog, Sr. to life imprisonment for illegal possession of drugs.

QC Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 79 Judge Nadine Jessica Corazon Fama convicted Reynaldo Parojinog, Jr., who was caught in 2017 during a raid in their house in Brgy. Sta. Cruz, Ozamis City, Misamis Occidental, where 15 people were killed, including his father, mother and another family member.

The judge also ordered Parojinog to pay a fine of P500,000, according to a 22-page judgment promulgated Friday.

Parojinog’s sister, former Ozamis Vice Mayor Nova Princess Parojinog-Echavez was also arrested during the raid back in 2017.

The court said it convicted Parojinog for failing to present convincing evidence to rebut charges against him.

It added that the prosecution was able to demonstrate that the integrity and evidentiary value of the confiscated drugs had been preserved, with the prosecution showing the chain of custody of the illegal drugs.

The court also rejected Parojinog’s claim that the pieces of evidence were planted.

“The denial of the accused cannot be given credence by the Court. The claim of the defense that the drugs found in the house of the accused were planted was unsubstantiated by clear and convincing evidence,” it ruled.

Parojinog is facing 4 other cases: 3 counts of illegal possession of firearms and 1 count for illegal possession of explosive device.

His sister, Parojinog-Echavez, is facing illegal possession of drugs and illegal possession of firearms.

Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera said the defense is presenting evidence in these cases.