Northern Mindanao Police Director Brig. Gen. Rolando Anduyan said high profile inmate former Ozamiz City councilor Ricardo “Ardot” Parojinog succumbed to cardiac arrest.

Findings on Parojinog’s heart disease supported earlier police statements that there were no signs of violence or foul play in his death.

“Cause of death was cardiopulmonary arrest secondary to cardiovascular disease,” Anduyan said.

Parojinog was found dead in his detention cell at the Ozamiz police station Friday morning.

A swab sample was taken as part of protocol amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The remains were sent to a funeral home in Barangay Aguada, also in Ozamiz.

Parojinog had been detained at the PNP Custodial Center since 2018, and he flew to Ozamiz on Thursday to attend a hearing the next day.