Ozamiz City Acting Vice Mayor Michael Tagal does not believe that slain mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr. was involved in illegal drugs.

Tagal said it could be Parojinog's relatives who have links to the illegal drug trade.

"Sa palagay ko, hindi (involved sa drugs si Mayor Parojinog), dahil 'yung mga kamag-anak lang siguro niya 'yung parang ganun. Wala akong personal knowledge sa kanyang involvement. Parang ganoon, kasi maano mo sa media," he told DZMM.

Tagal said the illegal drug trade in Ozamiz City took a nosedive since Chief Insp. Jovie Espenido took over as chief of police.

"Sa pag-operate ni police chief Jovie Espenido, talagang nabawasan, na-minimize," he said.

Parojinog Sr. and 14 others were killed in a series of raids in San Roque Lawis, Ozamiz City early Sunday. Their camp allegedly resisted when they were served 6 search warrants for firearms at around 2:30 a.m.

Vice Mayor Vice Mayor Nova Princess Parojinog was arrested during the operation. She and her brother have been transferred to Camp Crame.

Mayor Parojinog was one of the local government officials named in President Rodrigo Duterte's narco-list. His daughter was reportedly in a relationship with high-profile Bilibid inmate Herbert Colangco.

He earlier denied any involvement in the illegal drugs trade.