Money, a lot of money, played a key role in the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo who was killed along with eight other people in a brazen attack in his residence in Pamplona town, a police official said .
Col. Redrico Maranan, chief information officer of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said how the attack was carried out, especially with the use of former soldiers carrying high-powered firearms, is an indication that it was well-financed.
“Money played a major role in this kind of incident. This kind of attack requires long planning and a big factor of it is money,” Maranan told the Manila Bulletin in an interview, citing his observation and experience of cases in the past.
Maranan, however, urged the public not to speculate as to the motive and the mastermind and wait instead for the result of the investigation, especially that a regional-level Special Investigation Task Group was already ordered created by PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin, Jr.
Degamo was shot dead while attending to the beneficiaries of the government’s cash dole-out program to his constituents at a compound adjacent to his house in Barangay San Isidro, Sto. Pueblo in Pamplona town at 9:45 a.m.
Aside from Degamo, the local police identified the eight other fatalities as Quinikito, Florenda, barangay captain of Barangay Fatima; Jose Marie Ramirez, barangay councilor; and civilians Jomar Canseco, Crispin Vallega, Jerome Maquiling, Joseph Retada, Michael Fabugais, and, Jessie Bot-ay.
Those seriously injured were Liland Estacion, head medical doctor of the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital; Corporal Gerald Malones, from the Army’s 11th Infantry Battalion; Sgt. Edmar Sayon, also from Army’s 11th IB; and civilians Lestor Chris Arnold, Marlo Quilnet, Fredilito Café, Chyrell Garpen, Rosa Banquerigo, Vickmar G Rayoso, Mayben Jun Torremocha, Nikki Espinas and Pedro Flores.
Also wounded was David Toryan Cortez, a local broadcast journalist who was among those covering the event.
Police said Diomedes Omatang, Raymond Baro, Rodelio Ragay Quinikito and Nikko Torres Alavaren suffered minor injuries.
Armed to the teeth
In a viral video from a CCTV that circulated on social media after the attack, the gunmen were seen using-powered firearms and experts said that judging by the way they move, they attackers have gun training.
This was confirmed by the pursuit operations that led to the arrest of three of the attackers—identified as Joric Labrador, 50; Joven Aber, 42; and, Benjie Rodriguez, 45.
Labrador and Aber are former members of the Philippine Army, the latter turned out to be a former member of the Army’s elite Scout Ranger.
Another suspect, according to Maranan, was killed in a gun battle with local authorities.
Citing reports from the local police force, Maranan said among those seized from the arrested and slain suspects were high-powered firearms, including a rifle grenade, and five rocket-propelled grenades.
On Saturday, Maranan said coordination was already made with the Land Transportation Office for the identification of the registered owners of the seized vehicles.
“There were already results, but we cannot divulge them yet because these are operational data,” said Maranan.
Hopeful
A few hours after the attack on Degamo, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla offered P5 million reward for the capture of the mastermind behind the attack.
Maranan said there is no indication so far that the three arrested suspects are cooperating with the probe.
But he said they are hopeful that they would eventually cooperate to reveal more information that could lead to the identification of the person or persons who ordered the hit.
“We are hoping that later, just like other suspects in other cases that were arrested by the PNP, they would eventually cooperate,” said Maranan.
Security adjustments
The attack on Degamo was the fourth, in just a matter of two weeks, against local officials.
The first was the ambush which was survived by Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong, Jr. near the boundary of Lanao del Sur and Bukidnon; the attack that killed Aparri, Cagayan Mayor Rommel Alameda and five others in Nueva Vizcaya; and the failed ambush on Montawal, Maguindanao del Sur Mayor Ohto Montawal in Pasay City.
PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin, Jr. earlier ordered all chiefs of police to conduct a threat assessment on all elected and appointed government officials to prevent similar attacks.
Following the latest attack involving Degamo, Maranan said intensified security coordination with local officials would be a protocol especially on their scheduled travels.
“We will beef up the coordination so that if they are out of town or if they travel, an appropriate number of security measures would be provided, including road security,” said Maranan.