Senate panel defers hearing on Degamo slay, political killings
Published Mar 13, 2023 06:38 am
The Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs has postponed its scheduled hearing this week on the series of political killings happening in the country following the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.
Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said they have decided to defer the hearings to give the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) “ample time to file airtight cases against the suspects” in the killing of the governor.
“We don’t want to divide their attention,” Dela Rosa said in a message to reporters.
Asked when the Senate will conduct its initial public investigation, the senator said there is “no definite date yet.”
“If our prosecutors can file the case within this week then we can schedule the hearing next week before the Senate break,” he said.
Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito supported Dela Rosa’s decision saying it is critical to allow the PNP, DOJ and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to finish the investigation, especially since they are handling sensitive matters.
“I agree with Sen. Bato, he is right. We cannot compromise while the investigation is ongoing,” Ejercito said.
“Let’s allow our authorities to do their job first,” he further said.
Ejercito also reiterated his call for the DOJ to look into the circumstances on why five out of six of Degamo’s escorts did not report for duty on that fatefuly day that he was assassinated.
“That is a very suspicious coincidence. According to Secretary Boying (Jesus Crispin Remulla), only one of them, and he is his cousin, was able to report on duty,” he pointed out.
“That’s why when these assailants entered, there seemed to be no resistance. None at all .. only one got in, he’s the one who hit at least one (of the suspects),” the senator pointed out.
“So we also need to investigate the five security detail that were assigned to Gov. Degamo that did not report on the day he was assassinated,” he reiterated.