NEGROS Oriental Governor Roel Degamo confirmed Wednesday, July 1, that the three individuals arrested at the Caticlan Jetty Port in Malay, Aklan on June 29 were involved in a plot to assassinate him and his wife, Pamplona town Mayor Janice Degamo.
In a press conference Wednesday afternoon, Degamo said that as early as June 28, he and his wife have been alerted by his people in Metro Manila that the three suspects have boarded a roll-on/roll-off vessel in Batangas Port and are bound for Aklan.
Degamo said they were informed that the three are out to kill him and his wife, prompting him to immediately inform the police in Western Visayas, ultimately resulting in the arrests.
He confirmed that one of the suspects, 31-year-old Marvin Miranda, was a resident of Villareal in Bayawan City, Negros Oriental.
He believes that all three are members of a local gun-for-hire group but he did not divulge other details on who is behind and the reason why they wanted him dead.
Degamo thanked the members of Police Regional Office (PRO)-Western Visayas, especially the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Western Visayas, and the Philippine Army's 3rd Infantry Division for successfully intercepting the suspects.
Earlier on Monday, Miranda, along with two other suspects identified as Mario Fuyal, and Adolfo Obiacoro were intercepted at the Caticlan Jetty Port.
PRO-Western Visayas spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Gilbert Gorero said the three were nabbed around 9 p.m. of June 29 after the CIDG-Western Visayas received information that a sports utility vehicle loaded with firearms and bullets will arrive at the port from Batangas onboard a roll-on/roll-off vessel.
"The police intercepted them upon their arrival. Recovered from their possession were firearms and ammunition and they violated a quarantine protocol," said Gorero.
"They were arrested because of strict implementation of quarantine and because of the tips given to the police," he added.
All three are facing charges for violation of Republic Act 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act and for violation of quarantine protocols.