Killing of Negros Oriental governor

A Manila court has deferred the arraignment of 11 accused in the killing of Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo and nine others. A motion to quash, citing “illegal arrest,” filed by the defense is pending, News5 reports.

Muling ipinagpaliban ang pagbasa ng sakdal sa 11 akusado sa pagpaslang kay Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo at iba pa. Ito'y matapos maghain ng motion to quash ang kampo ng mga akusado at 'illegal arrest' ang ginamit na basehan sa inihaing mosyon. #News5 | via Marlene Alcaide pic.twitter.com/mOP3LvKIhq

— News5 (@News5PH) May 31, 2023

Senate public order panel lifts contempt order on PSSgt. Noel Alabata who was earlier cited in contempt for allegedly lying during the hearing on the assassination of former Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo. — Xave Gregorio

The Senate public order panel resumes its legislative hearing into the assignation of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo.

The public session comes after an hours-long executive session.

Since the senate panel’s last hearing, another victim—a provincial capitol worker—from the brutal incident has died, bringing the death toll to ten.

The Department of Justice says the prosecution panel recommended the indictment of Marvin Miranda, one of the alleged masterminds in Degamo slay, for nine counts of murder, 13 counts of frustrated murder and four counts of attempted murder.

The DOJ says that prosecutors found that Miranda “conspired in the commission of the crimes” with other six others accused in the killing.

“In effect, the state prosecutors would be amending the informations previously filed in court to include Miranda as one of the accused,” it adds.

The Senate may soon hold hearings into the killing of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo, although the public order committee will likely focus on policy issues, Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa said.

"[Department of Justice] is in deep with criminal prosecution. Our senate investigation in aid of legislation will complement their efforts once additional evidence will be unearthed in the process but my committee will focus more on policy issues that may be fixed through legislations," he says.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla confirms that “Marvin Miranda y Halaman” is one of the masterminds in the killing of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo.

He likens Miranda’s role to being a “casting director, director” of the brazen killing, while he tagged Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. (Negros Oriental, 3rd District) as the “executive producer.”

The DOJ chief says Miranda, a military reservist, was responsible for contracting people and gathering firearms. “We know who he is from the other suspects,” he adds.

The The petition of Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo, widow of slain Governor Roel Degamo, to expel Rep. Arnolfo Teves (Negros Oriental, 3rd District) has been referred to House of Representatives committee on ethics and privileges, News5 reports.

Ini-refer na sa House Committee on Ethics and Privileges ang petisyon ni Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo na patalsikin sa puwesto si 3rd District Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr., ayon kay House Secretary General Reginald Velasco. #News5 | via @mariannenriquez pic.twitter.com/rmORk4fSAz

— News5 (@News5PH) March 27, 2023

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla says Rep. Arnolfo Teves (Negros Oriental) “is being considered as masterminds” in the killing of Governor Roel Degamo.

Remulla adds he will still have to check with the panel of prosecutors “but right now, with the way it is progressing, that’s the direction we are heading to.”

The DOJ chief says they may be at least two, and up to four, masterminds.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. calls on Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. (Negros Oriental), saying government intelligence has not monitored threats to his security, a reason the congressman has raised for staying outside the country after his travel authority from the House of Representatives lapsed.

A joint press conference by several government agencies is being held at the Department of Justice to give updates on the investigation into the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.

The press conference is attended by chiefs of the Departments of Justice and the Interior and Local Government, of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines among others.

DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. says they compose the task force to look into the killing, formed following the order of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo, widow of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, says she appealed to the House of Representatives to expel Rep. Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. (Negros Oriental), who is being linked to the killing of her husband, GMA reports.

It says that the town mayor told Super Radyo dzBB thatshe signed a petition to have Teves, who has yet to return to the Philippines, expelled from the Congress.

The office of Speaker Martin Romualdez confirms that Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. requested yesterday a two-month leave of absence from the House due to "very grave security threat to his life and his family."

A copy of the letter was sent to reporters this morning.

Teves has been linked to the assassination of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo. — Cristina Chi

Malacañang declares March 16, 2023 as a special non-working day in Negros Oriental to allow the residents of the province to “grieve and honor the memory of Governor [Roel] Degamo and other victims.”

The proclamation was signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, by the authority of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

The Supreme Court Public Information Office says the high court has granted Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla's request to transfer cases related to the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo to the regional court of Manila.

The Philippine National Police on Monday morning awarded the head of the police unit that served a search warrant on Rep. Arnulfo Teves (Negros Oriental) and his relatives last week.

According to police reports, cops serving the warrant for alleged illegal possession of explosives, unlicensed firearms, and ammunition, found "a caliber .45 pistol and a magazine, a rifle scope, a hand grenade, seven pieces of ammunition for caliber .45 pistol, and 50 rounds of ammunition for caliber 40 pistol" in their search.

The Philippine National Police forms a special task force in pursuing the case of slain Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo.

PNP spokesperson Jean Fajardo says at a press briefing that Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos is leading the task force, which includes agents of the National Bureau of Investigation.

Defense Officer-in-Charge Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. and Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief-of-Staff Gen. Andres Centino visit the wake of slain Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo.

"We will even dig deeper [into] the different killings that happened before," Galvez says, speaking to members of the news media in a televised briefing.

He says the armed forces have already started carrying out President Ferdinand Marcos Jr's order to identify "hotspots" where killings are most likely to occur.

"The AFP has been tapped to organize two brigades and six battalions to work with the PNP in carrying out the president's order and serve warrants following the death of our beloved governor," Galvez says. (PTV photo)

The provincial police office of Negros Oriental says it is suspending all permit to carry firearm outside of residence in the province “until further notice.”

In a post, it adds that “only the member of the [Philippine National Police, Armed Force of the Philippines] and other law enforcement agencies who are performing official duties and in agency-prescribe uniforms will be allowed to carry firearms.”

The travel clearance granted to Rep. Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves expires today, based on a document from House Speaker Martin Romualdez’s office.

Teves, who earlier denied involved in Negros Oriental Gov. Joel Degamo’s killing, was allowed to travel to the United States from February 28 to March 9.

LOOK: The travel clearance granted to Rep. Arnolfo Teves for a trip to the United States expires today, March 9. A copy of his travel clearance was sent by the Office of House Speaker Romualdez to media. ????: House Sec. Gen. Reginald Velasco | via @chicristina_ pic.twitter.com/5ttFYGXr6Q

— Philstar.com (@PhilstarNews) March 9, 2023

The lawmaker’s brother was unseated by Degamo after a Comelec ruling. — Cristina Chi

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla says he believes “the end is near” in the case of the brazen killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.

News5 reports that Remulla said the case will soon be closed, except for the arrest of all perpetrators.

“There’s a statement already to the effect that there was a mastermind, but we have to evaluate it properly,” he was quoted in the tweet report. — News5/Marlene Alcaide

The Department of Justice says four people and 12 unidentified suspects have been charged with three counts of murder and frustrated murder charges before Tanjay, Negros Oriental court over killing of Gov. Roel Degamo.

Three of the respondents also face three counts for violation of illegal posession of firearms, ammunition and explosives before Bayawan City, Regional Trial Court. — Kristine Joy Patag 

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri condemns the killing of  Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo in a brutal ambush Saturday.

"This is especially alarming, coming so soon after the ambush of Gov. Mamintal Adiong, not to mention the recent ambush on Mayor Ohto Montawal of Maguindanao del Sur, and the killing of Vice Mayor Rommel Almeda in Cagayan.For this ambush to happen while Gov. Degamo was in the middle of attending to 4Ps beneficiaries is absolutely appalling," Zubiri says.

"It is sick and heartless, and the suspects should rot in jail," he adds. 

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. says he condemns "in the strongest possible terms" the killing of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo.

"My government will not rest until we have brought the perpetrators of this dastardly and heinous crime to justice," writes Marcos on Facebook.

"The investigation into this murder is developing rapidly. We have received much information and now have a clear direction on how to proceed to bring to justice those behind this killing," he adds.

Roel Degamo, governor of Negros Oriental province, was shot dead by unknown gunmen on March 4, 2023 in his home in Pamplona town.

Photo courtesy of Facebook/Bongbong Marcos