By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
Two of the four suspects, who have been arrested and charged in the murder of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and eight individuals, were placed under a witness protection program by the Department of Justice (DOJ) yesterday afternoon.
Special Investigation Task Group Degamo spokesperson, Police Lt. Colonel Gerard Ace Pelare said the two suspects have revealed vital information that could pinpoint the person/s behind the assassination.
The suspects vowed to cooperate with the ongoing investigation.
Pelare said both suspects were brought to Manila and will be detained at the Philippine National Police headquarters at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
Other suspects are still under the custody of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office.
Meanwhile, Pelare also confirmed that the entire police force of the Bayawan City Police Station had been relieved from their posts.
Pelare refused to divulge the reason behind the relief.
2 remaining slay suspects identified
The two remaining suspects arrested in relation to the assassination of Degamo and eight civilians have been identified.
The suspect was identified as 38-year-old Rickyvelle Luces, also known by his alias as “Ricky Velle Espe,” a resident of Barangay Lantad in Negros Occidental’s Silay City.
Based on information released by police, Luces was formerly a corporal in the Philippine Marine Corps.
However, in 2016, records from the Marines show that he went on absence without official leave.
Authorities revealed that Luces may have led a gun-for-hire group in Negros.
A buy-bust and raid operation against Luces was organized by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in response to the governor’s murder, which resulted in the recovery of several high-powered firearms at his rented home in Negros Oriental’s Amlan town.
Meanwhile, another suspect, Osmindo Rivero, was also nabbed on Sunday, March 5.
Background checks revealed that Rivero was also a former soldier of the Philippine Army.
He was brought before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office in Dumaguete City on Monday, March 6.
Among the charges filed against Rivero include multiple and frustrated murders, and illegal possession of explosives.
Earlier, it was noted by police that the suspects they had arrested following the attack on the governor’s residential compound on Saturday, March 4, were former members of the military.
Philippine Army spokesperson, Colonel Xerxes Trinidad revealed that the three arrested suspects — Joric Labrador, Joven Javier and Benjie Rodriguez — were “dishonorably discharged” from the service in 2014, 2018, and 2009, respectively.
In response to the rising number of former soldiers becoming hired guns or armed mercenaries, Army chief, Lt. General Romeo Brawner, Jr. said they are now planning to introduce programs to ensure that their “skilled” personnel will not be of use to criminal elements even after they bow out of military service./DGB, WDJ