THE killed suspect in the the assasination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, Maj. Cenon Pancito III, Joint Task Force Negros spokesperson revealed Wednesday, March 15.
Pancito said the suspect was Arnil Libradilla, a former New People's Army rebel from Sitio Awang, Brgy. Atotes, Bindoy town in Negros Oriental.
Libradilla was killed during pursuit operations hours after the so-called Pamplona massacre, where eight others were also killed.
Pancito said the information was provided by the other suspects, who were arrested by authorities.
The composite team was able to locate a suspect hiding in a plantation, and when the suspect sensed that operatives were coming his way, he shot at them.
The other suspects, Joric Labrador, 50, of Cagayan de Oro City; Joven Aber, 42, of La Castellana, Negros Occidental; and Benjie Rodriguez, 45, of Bonifacio, Misamis Occidental, were arrested by a combined police and military force.
The fifth suspect, Osmundo Rivero, was arrested by joint forces of the police and the Philippine Army in Bayawan City on March 5.
Rivero was a former government soldier from Zamboanga City who later became a taxi driver.
All four suspects were charged with multiple murders, multiple frustrated murders, and illegal possession of firearms.
Degamo is set to be buried on Thursday, March 15, in his hometown Siaton.
MalacaƱang declared Thursday, March 16, 2023, a special non-working holiday in Negros Oriental to show respect and attend the interment of Degamo.*