Pamplona massacre victims’ kin may face Teves in Senate probe — Dela Rosa

MANILA, Philippines — Families of victims in the Pamplona massacre, which took the lives of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and eight others, may have the opportunity to confront suspended Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. at a Senate panel probe into the spate of political killings in the country.

Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, chair of the upper chamber’s public order and dangerous drugs committee, said on Tuesday that the panel would seek the presence of the beleaguered lawmaker, whether physical or virtual, as a resource person in the hearing.

Teves has been identified as a key orchestrator in the March 4th incident, which resulted in the deaths of Degamo and eight others at the local official’s residence in Pamplona, Negros Oriental.

READ: Remulla: Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. ‘being considered’ as among masterminds in Degamo slay

Teves’ brother, former Negros Oriental Gov. Pryde Henry Teves, will also be among those summoned to the hearing, according to Dela Rosa.

He further noted that Degamo’s widow, Mayor Janice Degamo, and the bereaved kin of the victims of the Pamplona massacre and other Negros Oriental killings would be invited to the Senate investigation as well.

The panel will also secure a clearance from the court to summon the arrested suspects, including Marvin Miranda – a military reservist and longtime bodyguard of the Negros Oriental legislator tagged as the alleged mastermind in the Degamo slay.

READ: Another mastermind named in Degamo slay

Among other resource persons being eyed by the committee are representatives from the Philippine National Police, Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of the Interior and Local Government, Commission on Elections, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.

The probe, which will start on April 17, was prompted by the resolution lodged by Sen. Risa Hontiveros, calling for the upper chamber to conduct an inquiry into the assassination of Degamo and the series of political killings and violence in the country.

READ: Probe into spate of political killings sought in Senate

Dela Rosa recognized, however, that the DOJ is already “in deep with criminal prosecution.”

“Our Senate investigation in aid of legislation will complement their efforts once additional evidence will be unearthed in the process, but my committee will focus more on policy issues that may be fixed through legislation,” he told INQUIRER.net in a text message.

READ: DOJ Sec. Remulla on Degamo killing: ‘Case closed’

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