10 suspects in Degamo killing now under police custody, says DILG chief

(Left to right) PNP Deputy Chief for Operations Maj. Gen. Jonnel Estomo, PNP chief Police Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr, Justice Sec. Jesus Crispin Remulla, DILG Sec. Benjamin Abalos Jr., DND officer-in-charge Senior USec Carlito Galvez Jr. , and AFP chief of staff Gen. Andres Centino during a press conference at the Office of the Civil Defense in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Wednesday, March 22, 2023. INQUIRER.net / Faith Argosino

MANILA, Philippines — Ten suspects in the killing of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo are now under police custody.

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. announced this Wednesday during a press conference n Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

“Five more suspects who have a direct participation in this incident were under the custody of the Armed Forces of the Philippines nilipat na po sa National Bureau of Investigation (NBI),” the DILG chief said.

(Five more suspects who directly participated in this incident were under the custody of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. They are now under NBI’s custody.)

Prior to this, Abalos noted that the first three suspects were arrested in Bayawan City hours after the assassination of the governor while another suspect was killed in an alleged shootout in Bindoy town.

“Thereafter, another suspect fell into the hands of the authorities during the pursuit operation and another one. Hence as of today, we now have 10 suspects under custody,” he explained.

Abalos, who chairs Special Task Force Degamo, also revealed that the suspects are former military men.

“Out of the 10 under custody, nine are ex-military, and one was an ex-military trainee who did not finish the course,” he said.

He added that the suspects are set to undergo tactical interrogation.

On March 21, four other suspects surrendered through the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). They were allegedly the “main players” in the brazen March 4 daytime attack on Degamo that also left eight more people dead in Negros Oriental. Sixteen individuals were wounded during the assault inside the governor’s residential compound.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said authorities are still looking for two or three more persons supposedly involved in the plan to kill Degamo.

Last March 17, other suspects surrendered to the AFP and corroborated the statements of four other arrested suspects implicating Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. in the assassination of Degamo. Teves has denied allegations that he is involved in the crime.

READ: New suspect bolsters possible role of solon in Degamo slay

According to a military report, one of the suspects was a discharged soldier. He was dismissed from service in 2016 due to his alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade. He was turned over to the National Bureau of Investigation on March 20.

RELATED STORIES

Teves ready to return to PH, face accusations but… 

Ethics panel to make Teves explain absence from House despite expired travel authority

Degamo kin to Teves: Come home, face charges

KGA/abc