Two more of the four detained suspects in the March 4 killings of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and eight other persons have signified their intentions to be government witnesses.
The suspects – Joric Garido Labrador, Joven Calibjo Javier, Benjie Buladola Rodriguez, and Osmundo Rojas Rivero – are now in the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) after they were airlifted on Tuesday morning, March 7, from Dumaguete City.
They were escorted by the operatives of the Special Action Force (SAF) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and immediately brought to Camp Crame in Quezon City.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) said that on instructions of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr., “the two (2) respondents who previously expressed their intention to cooperate were immediately turned over to the NBI for protective custody and further investigation.”
However, in the afternoon of March 7, the DOJ said the remaining two suspects “likewise expressed their intention to cooperate.”
“Thus, the PNP and the NBI have agreed to the turnover of the remaining two respondents” to the NBI, the DOJ said in a press briefer.
“The statements made by the respondents (4 suspects) are in the verification process at the time of this writing. The specific motive of the murder has yet to be confirmed as the DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) and the DOJ will exert every effort to see all the factors at play in this incident,” the DOJ also said.
It said the suspects had earlier been charged with three counts of murder and frustrated murder before the regional trial court (RTC) in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental along with 12 “John Does” in connection with the killings.
“Separate sets of information for three (3) counts for violation of laws on the illegal possession of firearms, ammunition and explosives against three (3) of the respondents were also filed in the RTC of Bayawan City,” it noted.
The DOJ said it is coordinating with the PNP “for any future cases that may be filed in relation to the incident” including “inquests from any arrests that may arise from continuing hot pursuit operations as well as any complaints for preliminary investigation.
“The Department of Justice main office intends to take cognizance of all these cases,” it added.