Why was the Philippine National Police (PNP) unable to stop the assassination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo despite a "validated" threat on his life?

The late Governor Roel Degamo (Provincial Government of Negros Oriental FB)

Misamis Occidental 2nd district Rep. Ando Oaminal raised this question Wednesday, March 8 during the House Committee on Public Order and Safety's unannounced "motu proprio" or voluntary inquiry on the Degamo killing.

Degamo was gunned down near his home during a public activity on Saturday morning, March 4 in Pamplona, Negros Oriental.

"Last hearing po apat lang yung biktima eh . But this time, nadagdagan nanaman ng isa, si Gov Degamo (There were only four victims during the last hearing. But this time, Gov Degamo was added to the list)," said committee chairman and Santa Rosa lone district Rep. Dan Fernandez.

"Alarming talaga situation (The situation is really alarming) and it's high time for us...to find out what measures you are using to prevent situations like this," Fernandez said, addressing the invited police-resource persons.

Among the attending PNP officials were PNP Directorate for Personnel Records and Management head Gen. Matthew Baccay.

Interpellating Baccay, Oaminal said he had received reports that hit on Degamo was declared as a validated threat, pero hindi pa po napigilan (but it was not prevented)".

“There were already validated threats na po daw, na meron talagang gustong pumatay sa kanya (Degamo). And in fact in one of the statements of SILG Abalos, nasabi po niya na si Governor Degamo was a friend of his and reported to him na meron na talagang mga threats (There were already validated threats, that there were really death threats against him. And in fact in one of the statements of SILG Abalos, he mentioned that Degamo, being his friend, had reported to him these threat.

"So if the threats were indeed validated, by the authorities or the intel department po ng PNP (or the PNP intel department), so why is it na hindi po natin na prevent (why is it that it wasn't prevented?)” Oaminal asked.

He added: "What assurance can the organization or the institution give us? Kasi yung nga po, validated threat na (Because these threats have already been violated)."

Baccay told the House panel that the PNP is studying the possibility of beefing up its protective security personnel (PSPs) and protective agents (PAs). He said the local chief executives themselves have requested this from the PNP.

According Baccay, each elected official can only be given the services of just two PSPs, based on an existing circular. However, in extreme cases, this number can go up to six.

“The PNP now is limited with the circular in the granting of PSPs because each local chief executive is only allowed two. But the PNP is in the process of studying providing of a security package," he said.

"Especially those with threat assessment that are validated… so with the recent incident sir, and some of the attendees yesterday (Tuesday) were asking for more, and that’s what we meant by studying for the increase of the body guard," the police official said.

Baccay was referring to a meeting between the PNP; the leagues of governors, mayors; and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos.

During the meeting, the PNP wowed to step up operations against guns-for-hire and loose firearms.

It was also agreed upon that additional check points would be set-up in areas that are considered hot spots during the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) on Oct 30.

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