Manila Bulletin
Philippines
Rifle seized from suspects in Degamo slay positive in ballistic exam, cross-matching – PNP
Philippines
Rifle seized from suspects in Degamo slay positive in ballistic exam, cross-matching – PNP
Rifle seized from suspects in Degamo slay positive in ballistic exam, cross-matching – PNP
Published Mar 11, 2023 12:31 pm
One of the firearms seized by the police from the four arrested suspects tagged in the assassination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo tested positive in the cross-matching and ballistic examination of the Philippine National Police (PNP), a police spokesperson said on Saturday, March 11.
Police Colonel Jean Fajardo, PNP spokesperson, said a rifle recovered by the police from the suspects during a follow up operation in Bayawan City shortly after the killing of the governor and eight others last March 4 “was used to kill Governor Degamo.”
“There were four assault rifles recovered from the arrested suspects during a pursuit operation in Bayawan City and one of them matched the ballistic and cross-matching. It was used to kill Governor Degamo,” Fajardo told the
Manila Bulletin
. The clarification was made after Fajardo stated in an earlier press conference at Camp Crame that a rifle confiscated during a raid at one of the properties owned by Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. in Basay town on March 10 was used in the crime. "The guns seized from Cong. Teves' compound are not yet submitted for ballistic exams. Our personnel have to return the warrants first from the court of origin before they can do it so we have yet to check those firearms," Fajardo explained. It can be recalled that joint forces from the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), Special Action Force (SAF), and the 11th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army raided a compound at Purok 4 in Brgy. Poblacion, Basay where three houses owned by Teves and two other properties belonging to his “close associates” and secretary are located. Fajardo said the raid yielded 10 short firearms, six rifles, 19 long magazines, several extended magazines and ammunition, over 100 cartridge cases, rifle scopes, three hand grenades, and various gun holsters. The raid on Teves’ compound was covered by 10 search warrants for alleged illegal possession of explosives, unlicensed firearms, and ammunition, according to Fajardo. Meanwhile, Fajardo said the PNP has already received instructions as to what shall be done when Teves comes back to the Philippines. Teves, who earlier denied involvement in the assassination, flew to America for a stem cell treatment. He was supposed to be back on March 9. “There was a specific instruction. What is clear with the instruction is that the PNP is willing to provide security to Cong. Teves if he requests. The PNP deputy chief for operations [Police Major Gen. Jonnel Estomo] volunteered that he will make sure there will be a provision of dedicated security from PNP as soon as he arrives in the Philippines so we can secure him,” Fajardo said.Hunted
On the other hand, up to four at-large suspects behind Degamo’s killing are still being hunted by joint forces from the PNP and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Fajardo said. Random checkpoints and roadblocks were already setup in Negros Oriental in Central Visayas (Region 7) as well as in nearby areas in Western Visayas (Region 6) to catch the escaped assassins. “Kung saka-sakaling makalusot sila sa dragnet operations natin within the perimeter and peripherals of Negros Oriental, pwede silang maintercept. But naniniwala po yung Joint Task Force na nandyan pa rin po sila within the province of Negros Oriental (If ever they escape our dragnet operations within the perimeter and peripherals of Negros Oriental, we can still intercept them. But the Joint Task Force believes that they [suspects] are still within the province of Negros Oriental),” Fajardo said. Moreover, Fajardo said the arrested suspects already issued separate statements identifying the mastermind behind the killing. The suspects were placed under the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). But the PNP spokesperson wouldn’t divulge details on the identity of the mastermind so as not to jeopardize the ongoing investigation. “Kung sinuman ang may utak dito sa kaso na ito ay may kakayahan na kumuha ng mga hard goons para isakatuparan itong pagpatay kay Governor Degamo. Sigurado tayo may kakayahan ito na gumastos. May pera siya kung sinuman ang may utak (Whoever is the mastermind behind this case has the capability to get hard goons to carry out the assassination of Governor Degamo. We are sure that the mastermind has the means to spend loads of money),” Fajardo stated. The owners, sellers, and buyers of the three “high-end” vehicles used in the killing are now also part of the PNP’s investigation. “With the revelation of the suspects under custody coupled with forensic evidence, we are nearing the resolution of this case,” Fajardo stressed.Security detail
As this developed, Fajardo revealed that the PNP will also investigate the claim of Sen. JV Ejercito that five out of six PNP personnel assigned to Degamo did not report on duty on the day that he was assassinated. “The SILG [Secretary of Interior and Local Government Benhur Abalos] instructed the AFP and PNP to locate and account ‘yung security personnel na naka-assign kay Governor Degamo (the security personnel assigned to Governor Degamo). Remember hindi lang PNP ang nagpoprovide kay Governor Degamo, meron din from AFP and PNP (Remember that it is not only composed of PNP personnel but AFP too),” she said.