The four arrested assassins tagged in the March 4 killing of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and eight others in a brazen gun attack in Pamplona town have started cooperating with the police investigators, a top police official disclosed on Monday, March 6.
In fact, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin, Jr. said the four arrested suspects were the ones who led the local police and military forces to their lair where high-powered firearms, including rifle grenades and rocket-propelled grenades were discovered.
“The four suspects arrested on Saturday afternoon, barely six hours after the shooting, have expressed willingness to cooperate in the investigation, a public attorney from the DOJ is assisting the suspects in preparing their sworn statements and other legal documents,” said Azurin in a press briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
Based on the information received by the PNP, Azurin said at least 10 people were involved in the actual operation to kill Degamo—four of them were arrested while another one was killed in a gun battle during one of the pursuit operations.
Azurin, however, would not divulge further details as to the extent of the information relayed by the four arrested suspects, saying they are all operational matters amid the conduct of pursuit operations and follow-up investigation to identify as to who ordered the hit.
Asked if the investigation leads to local politics as the motive, Azurin said: "as evidence presents itself then slowly we will get into the real motive of the incident.”
The PNP earlier said that the mode of the attack indicated that the operation to kill Degamo was well-planned and well-financed.
Azurin also disclosed that criminal charges will be filed against those arrested and their other accomplices—especially that the arrested suspects have started to talk.
“Pending the results of laboratory examinations including ballistics tests on the firearms and paraffin tests on the arrested persons as well as their further revelations, we believe that we now have the strong evidence to establish an airtight case,” said Azurin.
He said that as of Sunday, March 5, cases for violation of Republic Act.10591 (Firearms Law) and R.A. 9516 (Illegal possession of explosives) have been filed against the suspects.
He said multiple murder and frustrated murder charges are expected to be filed on Monday, March 6, against the suspects.
Currently, he said they are focused on running after at least five other suspects behind the attack on Degamo.