- GILBERT BAYORAN
The Army’s 3rd Infantry Division sent more troops to Negros Oriental to assist the Philippine National Police in hunting down the remaining suspects in the assassination of Gov. Roel Degamo and eight others in Pamplona town March 4.
Brig. Gen. Marion Sison, 3rd Infantry Division commander, yesterday that government forces are further intensifying their peace and security efforts to bring other perpetrators to justice, and dismantle private armed groups operating in Negros Oriental.
Regular checkpoints and security patrols were among the efforts of government forces in Negros Oriental, following the armed attack inside Degamo’s residential compound in Pamplona, that also injured 17 others.
Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. and AFP chief of staff, Gen. Andres Centino, who visited the wake of the slain governor at the Provincial Capitol of Negros Oriental in Dumaguete City March 11, also led the activation of the Special Joint Task Force North (SJTFN).
The SJTFN is composed of the Army’s 302nd and 303rd infantry brigades and six of its battalions, as well as the PNP Special Action Force and other police units.
A 50-man Light Reaction Company (LRC), the elite and highly-trained troops of the AFP Special Operations Command, was also deployed to Negros Oriental last week.
Former Army Sgt. Joven Javier, one of the four arrested suspects in the assassination of Degamo, used to be a member of the LRC of the Special Operations Command. Three other suspects are also former Army soldiers.
Maj. Cenon Pancito III, SJTFN acting spokesperson, yesterday said that about 300 Army soldiers have been deployed to 21 areas in Negros Oriental to help the police in the conduct of joint security checkpoints, as well as in pursuing the others behind the assassination of Degamo.
Sison said they are reiterating their call for others involved in the killing to come out and surrender while they still have time.
The Army extended manpower and other logistics during the serving of search warrants Friday at the residence of 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. in Basay and Bayawan, Negros Oriental. The operations yielded three fragmentation grenades, 10 hand guns, six M4 assault rifles, 22 assorted magazines with 465 ammunition, and 194 empty shells.
In a statement, the Police Regional Office 7 said that two more firearms used in the shooting of Degamo and others, were recovered by composite pursuing teams Friday night in Sitio Palasanun, Brgy. Cansumalig, Bayawan City.
The recovered firearms, composed of two assault rifles, with magazines containing ammunition, as well as a bandolier with plate, were forwarded to the PNP Crime Laboratory for forensic examination./GB
