Widow pushes for Senate probe into Degamo’s slay

CEBU, Philippines —  The widow of slain Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo is calling for a Senate investigation into the killing of her husband and eight others.

Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo has reiterated her call for a Senate probe on social media Thursday.

“If we match it with a Senate inquiry, a Senate investigation, doon lang talaga makikita ng public kung gaano ka talamak ang ginagawa ng akusado,” said Mayor Degamo.

Her call came a day after Congressman Arnie Teves, who has been dragged and named the alleged behind the killing of the governor, said that he too is a “victim” just like the Degamos.

“Pareho lang kami biktima ng pamilya Degamo dito..Biktima sila Degamo, ako din biktima dahil ginagamit ako ng marami dyan for political mileage,” Teves said in over 17 minutes video message posted in his social media page.

Mayor Degamo, without mentioning Teves, refuted the latter’s statement that he too is a victim.

“There’s this talk, news pinapakalat ng mga akusado, sila din daw ay mga biktima kasama po namin…hindi po totoo yan…Hintayin natin ang gobyerno na makapaglabas ng ebidensiya pointing to the culprit and mastermind para maintindihan natin kung ano talaga ang sitwasyon,” Mayor Degamo said.

“Kaming mga namatayan, nawalan ng asawa, ng anak, nawalan ng mga kasama sa buhay ang totoong biktima dito,” added the mayor.

Janice said she was shocked to hear such a claim.

“Talagang na shock po ako doon…Paano magiging biktima ang mga tao who caused so many deaths not just eight, nine..but so many others before the Governor,” Degamo said.

Mayor Degamo stressed that those claiming to be victims too are the “perpetrators” and the victims are “those who lost loved ones..those who are the least, the last and the lost..yun yung mga nawalan..napakarami yun.”

Along with this, Mayor Degamo has urged for the Senate to do its own investigation and dig deeper into this matter.

“Kaya hinihikayat ko din po, sana yun Senado, bigyan ng pansin, ng panahon na makapag undergo ng isang Senate hearing and Senate investigation…Kung seryoso talaga tayo na malaman ang totoong nangyayari, magiging katuwang ng grupo na ina-assign ni President Marcos to uncover the truth,” Mayor Degamo said.

Last Wednesday, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr., who leads Task Force Degamo, disclosed that five more suspects implicated in the March 4 attack that resulted in the death of Governor Degamo and eight others are now under the national government’s custody.

With this, there are now a total of 10 suspects involved in the killing of the governor under government custody. — GMR (FREEMAN)