House Speaker Martin Romualdez smells something fishy with the "disappearance" of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo's police escorts on the day that he was gunned down and killed last March 4. “It appears that the perpetrators were aware of the fact that Gov. Degamo has practically no protection so they could easily accomplish their mission to assassinate him,” Romualdez, Leyte’s 1st district representative, said in a statement Sunday, March 12. He noted reports that five out of the six Philippine National Police (PNP) escorts of Degamo did not show up for duty on March 4, when a group of men with high-powered firearms attacked his house and killed him, along with eight other individuals, mostly civilians. Romualdez is seeking a House inquiry over these reports. “We want to find out why most of Gov. Degamo’s PNP security details went missing on that fateful day. We don’t want to blindly accuse anyone but the circumstances apparently point to collusion between some members of the PNP and the perpetrators of this dastardly crime,” he said. Romualdez noted that Degamo had earlier reported to the police about the threats to his life, so it makes sense that his security detail should have implemented stricter measures to ensure his safety. "That’s why it’s highly suspicious why these police escorts were missing on the day he was killed,” Romualdez said. The House Committee on Public Order and Safety chaired by Sta. Rosa City lone district Rep. Dan Fernandez will investigate the matter. Romualdez said the congressional inquiry would seek not only to uncover the reason for the questionable actions of the PNP security personnel assigned to Degamo but also to ensure that all government officials in danger are provided adequate protection.