Governor’s alleged would-be assassins nabbed

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines –Two alleged guns-for-hire tasked to kill Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo were arrested on Thursday near the official’s home in Barangay (village) Bonawon in  Siaton.

Anthony Eleuterio and German Escora pointed to a provincial official as the one who hired them to assassinate Degamo, who had been receiving death threats, said Senior Superintendent Edward Carranza, provincial police director.

He said the suspects would be presented to the public at a press conference.

Police said Eleuterio and Escora disguised themselves as bedsheet vendors when they were seen by the governor’s security detail — all policemen — past 6 p.m.

Their presence alerted Degamo’s bodyguards, who found it odd that vendors would still be peddling bedsheets in the evening.

One of the bodyguards recognized Eleuterio, who had a police record and had been out on bail for illegal possession of guns charges.

The bodyguards coordinated with policemen in Bonawon and arrested the two.

Seized from the suspects were a .45 caliber pistol, one Ingram pistol and two explosives.