Degamo killing ‘mastermind’ now revealed  

CEBU, Philippines —  The suspects in the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and eight others in Pamplona town, same province last Saturday have revealed the person who allegedly ordered them to kill the governor, police said yesterday.

Also, Negros Oriental Third District Rep. Arnie Teves, a known political opponent of Degamo, has broken his silence to quell rumors linking his name to the killing.

As this developed, charges for multiple murder, multiple frustrated murder and illegal possession of firearms and explosives were formally filed against the suspects yesterday.

Facing the charges are Joric Garido Labrador, 50, married, ex-army and resident of Cagayan de Oro City; Joven Calibjo Aber, 42, married, an ex-army ranger and resident of Barangay Robles, La Castellana, Negros Occidental; Benjie Buladola Rodriguez, 45, married, from Mindanao; and Osmundo Rivero, a taxi driver and former member of the Philippine Army from Zamboanga City.

The Regional Special Investigation Task Group Degamo filed the respective cases before the Negros Oriental Provincial Prosecutor's Office and the Bayawan City Prosecutor's Office.

According to Police Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare, spokesperson of the task group, the suspects are charged with multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder in Dumaguete City and illegal possession of firearms and explosives in Bayawan.

Pelare said the suspects have revealed to the police the individual who supposedly ordered them to kill Degamo. However, Pelare refused to divulge the information pending investigation and follow-up operation against perpetrators who remain at large.

“I wouldn’t be at liberty to comment on it if they (suspects) have executed affidavits kay there are still suspects on the ground and this would derail our operations,” he said.

The weapons that were recovered have been checked by the Scene of the Crime Operatives and subjected to ballistic examination to see if they were used in the shooting.

The Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) will also check if the weapons were registered and, if so, under whose names.

“Gipa-check pa nato sa FEO. Gikuha nato ang tanan details gahapon. Of course, it will be used to identify the owners also and how these suspects acquired the firearms,” said Pelare.

Hunt continues

Security at the entrance and exit points of Negros Oriental remains strict, especially since the police strongly suspect that the other perpetrators are still hiding in the province.

Police earlier said that they are looking at not less than 10 people responsible for the attack in Pamplona.

“As far as the PNP and the military are concerned, we are trying to seal all entry and exits now in relation to our hot pursuit operation. There will be security measures as this case progresses, for the purpose tracking down the suspects,” said Pelare.

“Rest assured that the PNP, together with Armed Forces of the Philippines, will do everything to solve this crime. As you have seen, our actions are very swift and strategic, which resulted in immediate arrest of the suspects. Rest assured that will not rest until all those the perpetrators will be put to jail and justice will be served,” he added.

Degamo was distributing aid to some constituents in his house in Pamplona on Saturday when a group of men on board vehicles barged into the premises and opened fire.

Aside from Degamo, also killed were two barangay officials, two drivers, a guard, and three other civilians.

About 20 people also suffered injuries because of the attack.

Denial

Meanwhile, Negros Oriental Rep. Arnie Teves flatly denied yesterday reports linking him to the killing of Degamo, saying he is currently abroad for stem cell treatment.

“Magandang umaga sa lahat ng aking mga palangga, sa ating mga kababayan, at sa lahat ng mga marites at epal dyan… Pagpasensyahan niyo na na medyo natagalan itong medyo matagal niyo nang hinihintay. Alam ko ang daming gusto humingi ng reaksyon ko tungkol sa pangyayari sa aming probinsya sa Negros Oriental,” Teves said in a 16-minute video uploaded on Facebook.

“Alam nyo ba na ito ang matagal ko nang ikinatakot na mangyari? Bakit? Expected ko na na ako na naman ang pagbibintangan. Baka wala pang nagsalita openly, pero gaya ng sinabi ko na dati, maraming din akong sources of intel… Maraming mga tao dyan na gusto akong idiin,” he added.

Teves said his reaction to the incident got delayed as he is currently abroad for an overdue stem cell treatment, though he did not say what his ailment is.

Teves said that if he had the capabilities, he would have done it before the elections as he has nothing to gain from Degamo’s death now.

“Ano yung motibo kung ngayon ko gagawin? Di ba, hindi rin maging benepisyaryo ako at ang kapatid (Henry Teves) ko dahil kung mawala ang gobernador, and uupo man ang vice governor?” he added.

Vice Governor Carlo Jorge Joan Reyes was sworn in as the new governor shortly after Degamo’s killing by way of succession.

Teves’ brother, Henry, was initially proclaimed winner as governor during the May 2022 Local and National Elections but Degamo contested the results and successfully convinced the court to credit the votes of a nuisance candidate named “Ruel Degamo” in favor of the slain governor.

Teves called this turn of events as “magic.”

Teves, though, extended his condolences to the bereaved family, saying he feels how it is to lose a loved one.

In addition, the congressman commented that those responsible for the attack seemed to be professionals and knew Degamo’s security personnel.

Even how one of the dogs reacted, based on the video of the entry of the gunmen into the governor’s house, was also noticed by Teves. He had an impression that wagging its tail meant the dog was familiar with gunmen already.

Why so fast?

Likewise, the way the case is being handled by the authorities did not escape Teves.

“Nakapagtaka, pagkabilis-bilis na kaaagad na may nahuli daw na mga suspecta… Sobrang galing, sobrang bilis, habang sa ibang tao (also victims of injustice and killing), sobrang tagal. Hindi ako naniniwala. Hayop sa galing, parang pang sine,” he said.

Teves then added that he, too, also fears for his life and appealed to President Bongbong Marcos to help him get back his firearm license after it had been revoked.

He added that he will surrender the rest of his firearms when he returns.

“Sir President BBM, umaapela ako pakisabihan yung tao niyo ibalik na ang lisensya ng aking mga baril para sa aking proteksyon at ng aking pamilya,” Teves appealed. – Caecent N. Magsumbol, JMD (FREEMAN)