The criminal cases against Ozamiz City Vice-Mayor Nova Princess Parojinog and her brother, Reynaldo Parojinog, Jr., have been raffled off at the Ozamiz City Regional Trial Court, but the judges who landed the cases have expressed reservations in handling the trials.

The indictment of the Parojinogs stemmed from the bloody dawn raid by policemen at their compound on July 30 which left 16 people, including Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Sr. and his wife, Susan, dead.

• READ: Who are the Parojinogs of Ozamiz?

The cases for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, and possession of dangerous drugs against Nova Princess were raffled to Judge Edmundo Pintac of branch 15, while the cases for possession of dangerous drugs, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, and illegal possession of explosives against Reynaldo, Jr. were raffled to Judge Salome Dungog of branch 35.

In an interview, Pintac said the trial against Nova Princess should be held in a “neutral place,” not in Ozamiz.

Dungog is set to retire on August 22 and is inclined to inhibit from Reynaldo, Jr.’s case.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has yet to decide whether to move for the transfer of venue of the Parojinog trials.

The department, in several instances, pushed for the transfer of trials of high-profile individuals outside of the localities where they have been indicted, citing security reasons.

The Parojinog siblings are currently detained at the national police headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.