NEGROS Oriental Governor Roel Degamo was shot to death inside his residential compound in Brgy. San Isidro, Pamplona town in his province, Saturday morning, March 4.
He was attending to the beneficiaries of the government’s cash dole-out program outside his house in Barangay San Isidro in Pamplona town at 9:45 a.m. when a group of unidentified men wearing pixelized uniforms and in full battle gear entered the compound and opened fire.
The governor was shot several times by the assailants.
The incident also killed eight people and injured 17 others.
Aside from Degamo, the other fatalities were identified as Brgy. Captain Florenda Quinikito, Brgy. Kagawad Jose Marie Ramirez, civilian drivers Jomar Canseco and Jerome Maquiling, civilian guard Crispin Vallega, photographer Michael Fabugais, and civilians Jessie Bot-ay and Joseph Retada.
Those who were seriously injured were Provincial Health Officer Liland Estacion, Corporal Gerald Malones of the Army’s 11th Infantry Battalion; Sgt. Edmar Sayon of the 11th IB; and civilians Lestor Chris Arnold, Marlo Quilnet, Fredilito Cafe, Chyrell Garpen, Rosa Banquerigo, Vickmar Rayoso, Mayben Jun Torremocha, Nikki Espinas and Pedro Flores.
Also injured was David Toryan Cortez of 96.1 Voice FM, who was covering the activity.
Diomedes Omatang, Raymond Baro, Rodelio Ragay Quinikito and Nikko Torres Alavaren suffered minor injuries and were already out of the hospital.
CCTV FOOTAGE
Hours after the gun attack, two footage of the closed-circuit television that captured Degamo’s assassination went viral on social media site Facebook.
It can be seen in the video that the suspects alighted from two SUV vehicles and nonchalantly entered the compound. The six assailants were armed with high-powered firearms, and it seemed they had gun training.
They then opened fire, fatally hitting the victims, including Degamo.
In a pursuit operation, the three suspected getaway vehicles involved in the Degamo assassination were found abandoned in Brgy. Kansumalig, Bayawan City, hours later.
These are: the Mitsubishi Pajero with plate number NQZ 735; the Isuzu Pickup color green with plate number GRY 162; and the Mitsubishi Montero color black with plate number YAP 163.
According to the Police Regional Office-7 (PRO-7), around 10 suspects were seen fleeing the scene and are being pursued by the joint security forces.
Moreover, PRO-7 said that a Regional Special Investigation Task Group is conducting a focused, thorough, and swift investigation relative to the shooting of Degamo and eight other victims.
ARRESTED
Three suspected killers of Degamo, who turned out to be former military men, were arrested in hot pursuit operations at Sitio Punong, Brgy. Cansumalig, Bayawan City, on Saturday afternoon, March 4.
Nabbed were Joric Labrador, 50, of Marawi, Lanuso and a resident of Cagayan De Oro and an ex-army; Joven Aber, 42, of Brgy. Robles, La Castellana, Negros Occidental and ex-army ranger; Benjie Rodriguez, 45, of Bonifacio, Misamis Occidental.
All three are former Army soldiers who were dishonorably discharged due to alleged involvement in illegal drugs and for being absent without official leave.
They held the rank of corporal, with one of them a former Scout Ranger, who is supposedly trained in anti-guerrilla jungle warfare, raids, ambushes, close-quarters combat, urban warfare, and sabotage.
The Philippine Army said that they do not condone the unauthorized use of uniforms, firearms, or insignia by any group or individual.
They stressed that they strongly condemned the cowardly act of the perpetrators.
FOURTH SUSPECT KILLED
Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare, Special Investigation Task Group spokesperson, in a press briefing Sunday, March 5, confirmed that the hot pursuit operations led to the death of one suspect in Bayawan City on Saturday night, March 4.
Pelare said that during the hot pursuit operation, the composite team was able to locate the fourth suspect, who was hiding in a plantation.
When he sensed the operatives were coming his way, he shot at the composite team, which retaliated, resulting in his death, Pelare said.
The suspect is unidentified as of the moment, and they’re making efforts to identify him, Pelare said.
He said the information was acquired from the custodial debriefing of the three suspects who were arrested Saturday afternoon.
He also said that pursuit operations are still ongoing against the other fleeing suspects.
FIREARMS RECOVERED
Pursuing authorities also recovered early Sunday a cache of firearms and explosives in Barangay Cansumalig, Bayawan City.
It is believed to have been used in the assassination of Degamo.
Recovered were four assault rifles (5.56mm); a B40 (rocket-propelled grenade launcher) with five ammunition; four bandoliers fully loaded with plates; one rifle case; two combat uniforms; a gray sweatshirt; and three pairs of combat boots.
COMMAND CONFERENCE
Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr., Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr., Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Gen. Andres Centino, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, and other national officials held a command conference at the headquarters of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office Sunday.
Abalos assured the people of Negros Oriental that justice would be served soon and secured for the victims of the violence.
"The forces of the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office as well as the police in neighboring provinces have been deployed to explore every corner of the area to immediately arrest the criminals," he said.
Azurin also assured to provide additional security to elected officials here if there is a need to beef up their security to ensure their safety.
He also advised the officials not to feel comfortable in their comfort zones because the enemy may find a chance to attack.
Meanwhile, Vice Governor Carlo Jorge Joan Reyes and Board Member Manuel Sagarbarria were sworn into office as the new governor and vice governor, respectively, of Negros Oriental before Abalos over the weekend.
Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo, wife of slain Governor Degamo, is asking for the help of the national government in seeking justice for the death of her husband.
"He was serving his constituents on a Saturday along with his department heads. There were five others who died with him, who were there to ask for help," she said in a video statement hours after the gun attack.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in a statement, said that he condemned in the strongest possible terms the assassination of Degamo.
"My government will not rest until we have brought the perpetrators of this dastardly and heinous crime to justice," he said.
He also said the investigation into this murder is developing rapidly.
"We have received much information and now have a clear direction on how to proceed to bring to justice those behind this killing. I am warning all those involved in this killing: you can run, but you cannot hide. We will find you. If you surrender now, it will be your best option," he also said.
Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla offered a P5 million reward for the capture of the mastermind behind the attack.*