Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) to conduct a hot pursuit against the suspects behind the ambush of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo on Saturday, March 4.
Based on the ground report received by the DILG, a group clad in full-battle army and navy gears onboard two sports utility vehicles (SUVs) opened fire at Degamo while he was conferring with his constituents who are 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program) beneficiaries in front of his residence at Barangay San Isidro in Pamplona town. The incident took place at 9:40 a.m.
Degamo died in the attack, according to his wife Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo. Five other individuals were also reportedly killed in the ambush.
“We condemn in the strongest possible terms the senseless assassination of Governor Roel Degamo of Negros Oriental this morning (March 4) at Barangay San Isidro in the town of Pamplona of this province,’’ Abalos said.
Abalos pointed out that members of the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office and the police units in the neighboring places are now scouring every nook of the province and other possible hideout locations in search for the suspects.
In the past few weeks, separate ambushcades that targeted Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal “Bombit” Alonto-Adiong, Jr., Vice-Mayor Rommel Alameda of Aparri, Cagayan and Mayor Ohto Montawal of Tunggol, Datu Montawal, Maguindanao del Sur raised public alarm.
Adiong and Montawal survived the attempts on their lives but Alameda was not so lucky as he was killed along with five other people. Adiong’s four security personnel, including three policemen, also died in the particular attack on the Lanao governor.
With the attempt on Degamo’s life, Abalos vowed that authorities will never stop in the manhunt for the suspects including in the other previous ambush incidents involving local executives until they are arrested and brought to justice.
The DILG chief also appealed to the witnesses to come out in the open and provide the PNP with valuable information that may lead to the arrest of the suspects.
Earlier, Abalos directed the PNP to intensify its campaign against loose firearms and ensure round-the-clock police visibility on the streets to deter criminal acts amid the recent string of ambushcades on local executives.