Manila court defers anew arraignment of suspects in Degamo killing

Slain Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo (File photo)

MANILA, Philippines–The Manila Regional Trial Court has deferred anew the arraignment of the accused in the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and nine others.

Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Richard Anthony Fadullon said the arraignment was deferred “due to several incidents pending in court.”

He is referring to the 11 motions to quash the cases separately filed by all the accused at the Manila Regional Trial Court.

The eleven accused facing 10 counts of murder, 12 counts of frustrated, and three counts of attempted murders are Marvin Miranda, Osmundo Rivero, Joven Javier, Joric Labrador, Benjie Rodriguez, Winrich Isturis, Rogelio Antipolo, Eulogio Gonyon Jr., John Louie Gonyon, Romel Pattaguan, and Dahniel Lora.

Each of the motions to quash filed by all the accused is anchored on the ground that they were allegedly illegally arrested.

Aside from these motions, some of the accused also asked the judge to remand the case to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

They also sought the conduct of a preliminary investigation where they could counter the accusations allegedly hurled by government investigators.

The accused also asked the court to allow them to be detained at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), instead of the Manila City Jail.

They cited safety as the reason.

Atty. Danny Villanueva said some of the accused received information that they would be killed once they were moved to the city jail.

Government prosecutors were given 15 days to submit their comment on the requests of the respondents.

For his part, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla described these steps taken by the accused as moves meant to delay the proceedings.

The arraignment was originally set last April 26, 2023.

The proceeding was reset because the Department of Justice (DOJ) would still file related complaints.

Next hearing was set on July 19, 2023.

Teves is not included among the accused in these cases.

The charge against him is still undergoing preliminary investigation.

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Murder, frustrated murder raps filed vs 6 more suspects in Degamo killing

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