Three men linked to the March 2023 Pamplona Massacre, which claimed the life of former Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and nine others, have been convicted of illegal possession of firearms and explosives, Rep. Janice Degamo (Neg. Or., 3rd District) announced Thursday evening, Sept. 3.
In a statement posted on her official Facebook page, Degamo—the widow of the late governor—revealed that two of the convicted individuals were sentenced to reclusion perpetua, the maximum penalty under Philippine law.
“Today, my heart carries both pain and hope,” Degamo wrote. “For others, this may simply be another court decision. But for me, as Roel’s wife, it means so much more.”
While expressing gratitude to the courts, prosecutors, and law enforcement agencies involved, the lawmaker emphasized that the ruling marks a crucial step toward broader accountability.
“No court decision can bring Roel back. No sentence can undo the suffering that our families have endured,” she said. “But today’s convictions are an important reminder that justice does not forget… Every conviction is a step forward.”
The March 4, 2023, attack in Pamplona, Negros Oriental, shocked the nation when armed men stormed the Degamo compound during an aid distribution event. The assault left the governor and nine constituents dead, with dozens of others wounded.
“Roel was taken from us in an act of violence that also claimed the lives of many Negrenses and left many more wounded, grieving, and traumatized,” Rep. Degamo said. “For Roel, for all the victims, and for all the families who continue to live with this loss, we will keep fighting. We owe it to them to never forget.”
She added: “We will never stop fighting for justice”.*
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