Pamplona, Negros Oriental Mayor Janice Degamo (GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE / INQUIRER)
MANILA, Philippines — The widow of slain Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo, Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo on Friday linked Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. and his camp to the death of some 20 to 30 individuals in the province.
“More or less 20 to 30 people have been killed by the representative or by the representative’s camp,” Mayor Degamo said in an interview on ANC’s Rundown.
Degamo said she recently sent a letter asking the House of Representatives to expel Teves under a 60-day suspension for refusing to return home and perform his duties.
“I specifically attached in the letter affidavits of people complaining about the disorderly behavior if not of the alleged crimes committed by this congressman to a lot of citizens or members or constituents of my husband in the province,” Degamo told ANC’s Rundown on Friday.
The Pamplona mayor said the affidavit’s details are true without elaborating.
She also accused the congressman of land-grabbing and murdering opponents.
INQUIRER.net has contacted Teves’ camp regarding this claim via text message.
Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, who represents Teves, replied: “Actually, Cong. Teves is also responsible for the sinking of the MT Princess Empress and the earthquake in Syria.”
In a series of Facebook videos, Teves denied involvement in the governor’s death and three other murders in 2019.
Mayor Degamo insisted that publicizing the case and holding a Senate hearing would help her camp and others bring Teves and those involved to justice.
“Kasi pag sa Senado at open to public yung scrutiny ng criminality or criminal acts na ginagawa hindi ka pwedeng mag shield doon lahat tatanungin. May public pressure kasi lahat manunuod at makikita kung sinong may kasalanan doon,” the mayor stressed.
(If a Senate investigation is conducted, the accused’s criminal acts will be revealed to the public; you can’t shield yourself there. Questions will be asked. Public pressure exists because everyone will watch and see who is at fault.)
Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said that it has been receiving information from Mayor Degamo on alleged shooting incidents and killings in the province connected to the congressman, apart from his alleged involvement in the string of killings in 2019.
“Umaapila din po tayo sa ating mga kababayan kung meron pong information regarding sa mga sinasabi na pagpatay,” PNP spokesperson Police Col. Jean Fajardo told the reporters on Friday.
(We are also appealing to the public [to come forward] if you have any information regarding the alleged murders.)