House to begin inquiry on 'missing' Degamo PNP escorts Tuesday
The House of Representatives' investigation on the suspicious absence of five of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo's Philippine National Police (PNP) escorts on the day the official was assassinated will begin Tuesday, March 14.
This was confirmed by Sta. Rosa City lone district Rep. Dan Fernandez in an interview with House reporters Monday morning, March 13.
Fernandez chairs the Committee on Public Order and Safety, which will conduct the motu proprio inquiry. Motu proprio means it's an investigation launched by the panel sans any filed resolution.
"Basically what we're after here sa hearing nato ay doon sa lapses ng ating mga security (Basically what we're after here in the hearing is about the lapses of the security personnel)," he said.
"Inimbitahan natin doon sina DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) Secretary Benhur Abalos, si (Department of Justice Secretary) Boying Remulla, si PNP (Philippine National Police) [Chief Rodolfo] Azurin [Jr,], and even doon sa ating mga PNP security na may kinalaman doon sa mga police escort ni Governor Degamo (We've invited to the hearing DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos, DOJ Secretary Boying Remulla, PNP Chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr., and even the PNP security that handles the police escorts of Governor Degamo)," he said.
Fernandez added that representatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the missing police escorts themselves are being invited to Tuesday's panel proceedings.
"Ito naman ay (This is) motu proprio, at the same time [we'll] try to find out...what are the laws that were violated and in case there's a violation, to file the necessary case against them, or what are the things to be improved," he said.
No less than House Speaker Martin Romualdez called for the particular investigation Sunday, March 12. He described the disappeance of Degamo's security detail on the day of the killing as "highly suspicious".
Degamo was gunned down and killed by armed men outside his home in Pamplona, Negros Oriental last March 4.
Degamo was gunned down and killed by armed men outside his home in Pamplona, Negros Oriental last March 4.