The assassination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo in Pamplona town on Saturday, March 4, sent shockwaves not only to his constituents but to the entire country that was crippled by political violence for many decades now.

But the arrest of three suspects – all former military personnel – shortly after the incident offered hope that the case could be solved and the brains behind it would be unmasked. Here’s what the Philippine Army (PA) knows about them.

Discharged

Joint forces from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and PA conducted a manhunt which resulted in the arrest of Joric Labrador, Joven Javier, and Benjie Rodriguez in the mountains of Bayawan City, Negros Oriental hours after the killing of Degamo inside his house’s compound in Pamplona, Negros Oriental.

Information provided by the Army to the Manila Bulletin revealed that Labrador, Javier, and Rodriguez were discharged from the military service in 2014, 2018, and 2009 respectively. 

Col. Xerxes Trinidad, PA spokesperson, did not identify the particular units where the suspects served but he said they were based in Mindanao.

According to Army records, Labrador was a former Army sergeant who had been discharged on March 23, 2014 due to violation of Article of War 62 or absence without official leave (AWOL). He had a criminal case for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

On the other hand, Javier was a former Army sergeant who had been dismissed on Jan. 5, 2018 due to violation of Article of War 97 when he went amok inside their quarters. He also had a previous case for violation of Article of War 62 for being AWOL and was reprimanded for “insufficient financial support to his family.”

Finally, Rodriguez was a former Army corporal who had been discharged on July 20, 2009 due to violation of Article of War 59 or desertion and Article of War 76 or misbehavior before the enemy.

Desertion means an officer quits his/her post “without leave and with intent to absent himself permanently.” 

Meanwhile, misbehavior before the enemy pertains to the act committed by an officer who “runs away, or shamefully abandons or delivers up or by any misconduct, disobedience, or neglect endangers the safety of any fort, post, camp, guard, or other command which it is his duty to defend, or speaks words inducing others to do the like, or casts away his arms or ammunition, or quits his post or colors to plunder or pillage, or by any means whatsoever occasions false alarms in camp, garrison, or quarters, shall suffer death or such other punishment as a court-martial may direct.”

‘Unfit to be in military’

Despite the involvement of the former soldiers to a high-profile assassination, Trinidad maintained that the Army has a high standard of discipline among its personnel.

“These ex-soldiers were dishonorably discharged from the military service as they do not fit the noble profession of arms,” Trinidad said.

“Ever since, the Army leadership is serious in weeding out scalawags in its ranks in order to provide utmost and dedicated service to the people,” he added.

Another unidentified suspect was killed in the ongoing manhunt operation by the police and military but it has yet to be determined whether he was also a military personnel or a civilian. 

As this developed, the police said a fifth suspect was arrested by the authorities although no identity was revealed yet to the public.