The late Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo
The Department of Justice (DOJ) submitted today, April 19, a total of 23 case folders related to the March 4 assassination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and other politically-tainted cases of violence in Negros Oriental. In handing the case folders over to Senator Ronald ‘’Bato’’ dela Rosa, chairman of the Senate Public Order and Dangerous Drugs committee, DOJ Undersecretary Jesse Hermogenes Andres said all the 23 cases have been filed before the courts, except three cases. Two of these cases have been dismissed but the third was archived, meaning the arrest warrant could not be located. All the active cases had been raffled by the courts and arrest warrants would soon be issued, Andres said. The case folders of the cases were requested by Senator Francis ‘’Tol’’ Tolentino. Andres said the DOJ has coordinated with the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the investigation. Based on a DOJ circular issued by Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, five prosecutors have been assigned to the cases up to the logical conclusion of the trial of the cases. Tolentino assured the DOJ that he would seek the appropriation of funds for the DOJ task force in the next budget hearing. Andres said DOJ does not want to lose the 20 active cases filed. Dela Rosa said he appreciated DOJ’s objective that it does not want to lose the cases. Remulla earlier said that Negros Oriental 3rd Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. had no arrest warrant issued against him, at least so far. Teves is being linked to the Degamo killing.