By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
One of the suspects in the murder of Governor Roel Degamo claimed yesterday that it was Negros Oriental 3rd district Congressman Arnolfo Teves, Jr. as the one who ordered the killings.
In an interview with GMA News, one of the suspects, Joric Garrido Labrador, claimed that he was initially offered to serve as a security escort only.
However, the suspects had no idea that the target of the attack in Negros Oriental’s Pamplona town was Degamo.
In a separate interview with ABS-CBN News, Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla said they are investigating everybody who may have something with the murder and they will not exempt anybody, including Teves.
Degamo and Teves are known to be bitter political rivals in Negros Oriental.
Meanwhile, Senator Imee Marcos, who was in Negros Occidental’s Talisay City yesterday afternoon, said it is now clear that the suspects were merely hired, and it’s essential to get into the bottom of the conspiracy.
“No matter how influential or how powerful, I think it’s essential that the culprits be punished,” Marcos said.
Two of the four suspects, who have been arrested and charged, were placed under a witness protection program by the Department of Justice on Tuesday, March 7.
They were detained at the Philippine National Police headquarters at Camp Crame in Quezon City, and vowed to cooperate with the ongoing investigation.
Other suspects are still under the custody of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office.
Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, Teves’ lead counsel, in a statement yesterday, said the lawmaker strongly denounced and denied involvement in the murder.
“We call on all concerned to observe sobriety in the pronouncements regarding the allegations against Teves,” the statement read.
“It will not serve the ends of justice by publicly obfuscating the issues prematurely before a thorough investigation in accordance with procedures provided by law. The Supreme Court itself has already said that accusation is not synonymous with guilt,” it added.
Earlier, Teves, in a video posted on his social media account, denied any involvement in the killings.
He and his brother, former governor Henry Pryde Teves, would not be the ones who would benefit from Degamo’s death.
He said the incident was neither desirable nor beneficial for the progress of his own district and the entire Negros Oriental.
It can be recalled that Degamo ousted Henry in October last year, after the votes of a nuisance candidate were credited in his favor.
On Saturday, March 4, Degamo along with eight civilians were killed at his residential compound in Pamplona’s Barangay San Isidro.
Degamo was distributing financial assistance to the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program at the entrance of his compound when armed men entered the gate and opened fire.
Three suspects were arrested hours later after the attack. They were Labrador, a former soldier and resident of Cagayan de Oro City; Joven Javier, also an ex-soldier and resident of Negros Occidental’s La Castellana town; and Benjie Rodriguez, a resident of Misamis Occidental’s Bonifacio town.
A fourth suspect was later killed after engaging in a gunfight with law enforcement in Negros Oriental’s Bayawan City.
The fifth suspect was arrested on Sunday, March 5, although he has yet to be identified by the authorities.
Both are also being suspected as ex-military personnel.
Earlier, Philippine Army spokesperson, Colonel Xerxes Trinidad revealed that Labrador, Javier and Rodriguez were “dishonorably discharged” from the service./DGB, WDJ