- GILBERT BAYORAN
As the number of fatalities in the shooting incident inside the residential compound of Gov. Roel Degamo rose to nine, with 17 others injured, presidential sister and Senator Imee Marcos on Sunday, March 5, pushed to place Negros Oriental under a “state of emergency” as soon as possible.
Degamo was among the nine fatalities, including two barangay officials, while among the 17 injured were Provincial Health Officer Dr. Liland Estacion, Cpl. Gerald Malones, and Sgt. Edmar Sayon, both members of the Army’s 11th Infantry Battalion, the Police Regional Office 7 said.
Marcos, who visited the wake of Degamo in Dumaguete City, said “this needs to stop, and not only the hitmen or the murderers, their paymasters, but also the mastermind, and whoever conspired to make this happen”.
“Let us leave no stone unturned and no culprit unpunished. This cannot go unpunished and the perpetrators of this heinous crime, barbaric as it is and cowardly, should be punished as soon as possible,” Senator Marcos said.
But PNP chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr., in a press conference at the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office headquarters in Sibulan, that was also attended by House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr., and AFP chief of staff Andres Centino, appeared not being supportive of the call of Marcos as he stressed that “so far, everything is still on the manageable level”.
Azurin said that those involved in the shooting incident appeared to be not fully organized in the execution of their plan to kill Degamo as some of them were immediately arrested during pursuit operations.
P/Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare, spokesperson of the PNP Special Investigation Task Group, also confirmed yesterday the death of another suspect in the killing of Degamo and eight others, following an encounter at about 9 p.m. March 4 in Brgy. Cansumalig, Bayawan in Negros Oriental.
It was followed by the recovery of five assault rifles, a B40 RPG (Rocket Propelled Grenade) with five ammunition, four bandoleers loaded with steel magazines and ammunition, a rifle case, two combat uniforms, a grey sweatshirt, three pairs of combat shoes, assorted ammunition, and two bullet proof vests, near the vehicles abandoned by the suspects, in the same barangay.
A few hours before the encounter and recovery of firearms believed to be used in the broad daylight killing, three suspects were captured by the combined operating troops of the PNP and Philippine Army, also in the barangay.
Pelare, in a press briefing, said the three arrested suspects, who were subjected to paraffin testing, were cooperative during the SITG investigations.
Brig. Gen. Leonardo Peña, 302nd Infantry Brigade commander, said that the three arrested suspects, including a former Scout Ranger trooper, were dishonorably discharged from the Army, for various offenses.
Another suspect in the attack and killing of the governor was also reported to have been arrested yesterday by the police and Army soldiers during a raid in Amlan, Negros Oriental. A cache of firearms, a sniping gear, ammunition, and two car plates were likewise recovered.
Pelare said the owners of the vehicles abandoned by the suspects have already been established, in coordination with the Land Transportation Office. But he refused to name names.
Abalos also vowed to ensure that justice will be served to the families of Degamo and the eight others killed, as well as those injured, as he assured them of the arrest of the mastermind.
In a press conference at the wake of her husband, Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo yesterday said that they are not losing hope in attaining justice, not only for her husband, but also for other victims.
Mayor Degamo also urged the arrested suspects to reveal the identity of the mastermind.
“To the one behind this, your time will come soon,” the widow said as she thanked the support of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Vice President Sara Duterte, and many other officials, who condemned the violent attack Saturday.
“We are hoping that the death of Roel will be a solution to all other problems in previous years that are also related to peace and order,” the mayor said./GB
