Villanueva: Exhaust all efforts to bring those behind Degamo slay to justice

MANILA, Philippines — Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva has urged Philippine law enforcement agencies to do everything in their power to bring those behind the murder of former Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo to justice.

In a statement on Friday, Villanueva said the arrest of expelled congressman Arnolfo Teves Jr. is “definitely a big step in solving [the] case.”

The Department of Justice on Thursday night confirmed the arrest of Teves in Timor Leste. He is accused of orchestrating the killing of Degamo and nine others in Negros Oriental.

READ: DOJ confirms Teves’ arrest in East Timor

“We continue to urge the Department of Justice and all law enforcement agencies to exhaust all efforts to bring to justice the perpetrators involved in the murder of our good friend, former Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and all the slain victims of the dreadful massacre during an aid distribution activity in the town of Pamplona last March 4, 2023,” said Villanueva.

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

Meanwhile, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. earlier assured the public that all necessary actions will be made to bring Teves back to the country “so he can face the charges filed against him.”