Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. assured on Monday, April 3, that the police officers who allegedly served as “spotters’’ in the March 4 brutal slaying of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo will be investigated and punished accordingly.
In a press briefing, Levisto Baligod, lawyer of the Degamo family, bared that six Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel acted as "spotters" which led to the slaying of Degamo and eight other individuals.
In response, Abalos asserted that the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) will investigate the complaint against the police officers who will be suspended during the course of the probe and dismissed from the police service if warranted.
However, Abalos clarified that the six cops tagged as spotters will be accorded with due process as required by the law.
The PNP said that they will go through with their probe immediately to identify the six spotter cops.
Baligod mentioned that the widow of the slain governor mayor Janice Degamo expressed satisfaction on how the investigation is being conducted, specifically the cooperation exhibited by the various government agencies in resolving the case.
He revealed tat there are more witnesses claiming that they have pieces of evidence that point to several police officers there who served as spotters of the killers of the victims.
Citing records, Baligod also pointed out that there were at least 64 other killings “even before the March 4 incident’’, informing abalos that other persons are now ready to cooperate with government authorities provided that they are given ample security.
Abalos also noted that the Special Task Force Degamo had arrested Marvin Miranda, who was considered the missing ling and one of the conspirators behind the assassination of Degamo.
“Napakaimportante ng taong ito (Miranda). Base sa rebelasyon at confessions ng arrested suspects including discharged former AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines member) who had direct participation in the killing of Gov. Degamo (This person is very important. Based on the revelation and confession of the suspects including a discharged former AFP member),’’ Abalos said.
On orders of the certain “Boss Idol, Big Boss, Kalbo, Abalos disclosed that Miranda recruited the suspects and the person who provided them with the logistics and material support during the planning and execution of the assassination plot against Degamo.
Abalos bared that records showed that Miranda is a long time security personnel and bodyguard of Congressman Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. who has past criminal records and “was in fact’’ arrested on June 29, 2020 for violation of Republic Act 10591 or “The illegal possession of firearms.
“Upon Marvin's (Miranda) arrest in 2020, he pleaded guilty to a lesser offense and was sentenced to one to two years imprisonment and meted fine of P10,000 pursuant to judgment rendered by the RTC (Regional trial Court) Branch 24 of Kalibo, Aklan, “ Abalos explained.
With Miranda’s arrest, Abalos asserted that “we are now at the tailend of our quest for justice, and hunt for the masterminds behind the death of Gov. Degamo and eight others and wounding of many more victims and with the arrest of Marvin Miranda, we are certain that the pieces of the puzzle are almost complete and we can clearly picture out what really transpired before, during and after the brazen attack in Pamplona, Negros Oriental which will eventually help us in unmasking and identifying the main conspirators and masterminds behind the gruesome murder of Gov. Degamo and others,’’ he added.