Gerry Arambala’s Radical Politics in Ozamiz: The Rise and Fall of a Mindanao Boss

Gerry Arambala’s "Radical Politics in Ozamiz: The Rise and Fall of a Mindanao Boss" is a compelling sociological and political study that tracks the dramatic arc of the Parojinog family. It explores how a local group evolved from a state-sponsored vigilante unit into a formidable political dynasty, only to be dismantled by the very state that once empowered them.

Arambala’s work is influenced by Japanese scholar Wataru Kusaka who visited Ozamiz City and engaged with the author. The book is one of the pioneering studies in radical politics in the Philippines which is rooted in the Davao School of Radical Democracy, a new school of thought based on Christopher Ryan Maboloc's book Radical Democracy in the Time of Duterte.

A summary of the key themes and findings from the work:

1. The Origins: From Kuratong Baleleng to Local Heroes

The narrative begins with the birth of the Kuratong Baleleng. Originally formed by the Philippine military in the 1980s as an anti-communist vigilante group, they were intended to counter the New People’s Army (NPA) in Misamis Occidental.

Transformation: Under Octavio "Oni" Parojinog, the group transitioned from "protectors" to a powerful syndicate involved in organized crime.

Robin Hood Image: Despite their reputation for violence, the Parojinogs cultivated a "social bandit" persona, providing welfare and security to the urban poor in Ozamiz that the central government failed to deliver.

2. The Rise: Legitimacy Through the Ballot

The "Radical" element of their politics refers to the Parojinogs' ability to blend grassroots populism with coercive force.

Political Entry: In 2001, Reynaldo "Aldong" Parojinog Sr. successfully ran for Mayor of Ozamiz.

Consolidation: By winning elections, the family laundered their reputation. They weren't just "bosses" in the criminal sense; they became legitimate state actors who controlled the local police, the budget, and the patronage networks.

The Ozamiz Model: Arambala describes a unique form of governance where the lines between the legal and illegal were blurred, creating a "state within a state."

3. The Conflict: State Power vs. Local Autonomy

Arambala highlights the precarious nature of being a "frontier boss." The Parojinogs flourished as long as they remained useful to the national government or remained under the radar of Malacañang.

Changing Tides: The rise of Rodrigo Duterte in 2016 shifted the national political landscape. Duterte’s "War on Drugs" targeted local executives who were perceived as rivals or as having grown too independent.

4. The Fall: The 2017 Bloody Raid

The climax of the book details the violent end of the dynasty.

The Raid: On July 30, 2017, a massive police operation resulted in the deaths of Mayor Aldong Parojinog, his wife, and 13 others.

Decapitation of Power: Remaining family members, including Vice Mayor Nova Princess Parojinog, were arrested. The state effectively "reclaimed" Ozamiz through a display of overwhelming force that mirrored the very violence the Parojinogs used to rise.

Key Takeaways

State-Sanctioned Violence: The book argues that "bossism" is often a product of the state itself, which uses local "strongmen" to maintain order in the peripheries.

The Fragility of Local Power: No matter how entrenched a local boss appears, they are ultimately vulnerable to a more powerful national executive who chooses to centralize authority.

Popular Support: Arambala underscores that the Parojinogs were genuinely loved by many in Ozamiz, highlighting a systemic failure where citizens turn to "bosses" because the formal justice system is inaccessible.

Arambala’s work is a scholarly analysis of how power, violence, and democracy intersect in the Southern Philippines. It serves as a cautionary tale about the cycles of paramilitary violence and the volatile nature of Mindanaoan politics.