Four suspects have recanted their testimonies in the assassination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and nine others, their lawyer said yesterday.
“So far as I am concerned, as I can only speak for my four clients, [they] had already executed an affidavit of recantation,” Atty. Danny Villanueva said in an interview with ANC.
They took back their word of having knowledge about the alleged masterminds in the Pamplona massacre last March, having tagged suspended Negros Oriental 3rd District Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves, Jr. and former bodyguard Marvin Miranda.
One of the suspects who recanted statements, Rogelio Antipolo Jr., had his previous affidavit used to indict Miranda.
“As to the source of this information, Mr. Antipolo denies having any knowledge about it. So he can only surmise that this information comes from the police officers of Negros Oriental,” Villanueva said.
He added that Antipolo signed the affidavits “out of fear that he will be subjected to torture” and “for the safety of his family.”
Other suspects who also recanted their testimonies are Osmundo Rivero, Dahniel Lora and Romel Pataguan.
Rivero was first to recant his statements on Monday, May 22, after filing a counter-affidavit and claiming he was coerced into pointing to Teves as the one who ordered the killings while at the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters.
He also claimed that he was hurt while under custody.
“Mr. Rivero showed us the marks on his neck, showing he was indeed subjected to torture, when an iron wire was strung on his neck. A plastic bag was also put on his head,” he said.
Villanueva said they have already submitted a motion which seeks to have Rivero admitted to a hospital.
Earlier, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said the testimony of suspect-witnesses in the murder was not coerced.
Meanwhile, Villanueva believes there’s no solid case against his clients and Teves.
“His previous statements, which were prepared in violation of his constitutional rights, will not be any more use as it is considered a ‘fruit of a poisonous tree,’ so it is inadmissible as evidence in any proceeding,” Villanueva said.
Only the statements of these alleged perpetrators are the basis of the DOJ that tagged Teves in the Pamplona massacre, he added.
The lawyer also denied claims that he was hired by Teves, calling the claims “absolutely false” and “malicious.”
On the other hand, Degamo’s widow, Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo, said in an interview with Dobol B TV that someone may be manipulating the suspects involved in the killing following the recantation.
“Sa paniniwala namin, the recantation of this suspect was brought about by some people at the agency, na talagang ‘yun ‘yung gumawa ng paraan,” the mayor said.
“It could be someone who used to work with the agency and is trying to manipulate some people,” she added.
She said she has proof of that “something,” but did not clarify which “agency” she was referring to.
Degamo and nine individuals were killed following an attack on his residential compound in Negros Oriental’s Pamplona town.
Teves Jr. repeatedly denied involvement in the killings./ With reports from GMA News / WDJ