The fifth suspect in the gruesome killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and eight others was captured in Bayawan City on Sunday, March 5.
Degamo and eight others were killed, and 17 others were injured in an attack during the governor’s regular service caravan in his home in Pamplona, Negros Oriental, on Saturday morning.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said “my government will not rest until we have brought the perpetrators of this dastardly and heinous crime to justice”.
“I am warning all those involved in this killing: You can run but you cannot hide. We will find you. If you surrender now, it will be your best option,” Marcos said.
Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. on Sunday assured that they will arrest the mastermind behind the killing of Degamo.
Hot pursuit operations are ongoing against the rest of the gunmen.
The governor died of a gunshot that entered the right side of his body and hit his heart, Dauin Mayor Galic Truita said.
CCTV footage shared from the crime scene showed that the gunmen, dressed in military uniforms and with high-powered firearms, entered the compound, surveyed the crowd for Degamo and opened fire.
The gunmen were also shown in the video withdrawing from the scene in a coordinated manner with military-like precision.
Siaton Mayor Fritz Diaz said Degamo’s killing was surely politically motivated. “I don’t have to say it but we all know the motive. We can even determine the motive with our eyes closed,” he said.
P/Col. Gerard Ace Pelare, spokesperson of the Special Investigation Task Group Degamo, identified the fifth suspect arrested on Sunday as Osmundo Rivero, a taxi driver from Zamboanga City.
Like the three other captured suspects, Rivero is also a former Philippine Army soldier, Pelare said.
Saturday evening, the combined Police and Army forces also killed one suspect in a firefight in barangay Cansumalig in Bayawan City, who remained unidentified on Sunday.
Three other suspects who were arrested hours after the assault at the governor’s house were identified as Joric Labrador, 50, married, of Cagayan de Oro City; Joven Aber, 42, married, of Barangay Robles, La Castellana, Negros Occidental; and Benjie Rodriguez, 45, married, and a resident of Bonifacio, Misamis Occidental.
Rivero’s capture has further bolstered suspicion that the other suspects who are still at large and in hiding in Negros Oriental, are also ex-Army personnel.
The Army’s Visayas Command Chief, Lt. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, said the suspects are all ex-military personnel who have been dishonorably discharged from the service for various offenses involving drugs and for going on AWOL.
Pelare said the troops are still searching for the remaining suspects, who are believed to still be in Negros Oriental.
“All ports and exit points have been sealed so there’s no way for them to leave the Province,” Pelare said.
The four suspects are in custody at the PNP Provincial Headquarters at Camp Francisco Fernandez in Agan-an, Sibulan, Negros Oriental, where they are undergoing tactical interrogation.
A team of lawyers is finalizing the statements of the suspects so that proper charges may be filed in court.
Joint police and military authorities also recovered early Sunday a cache of firearms and explosives in Barangay Cansumalig, Bayawan City, Negros Oriental, believed to have been used in the assassination of Degamo.
The recovered items include five assault rifles (5.56mm); a B40 (rocket-propelled grenade launcher) with five ammunition; four bandoliers fully loaded with plates; one rifle case; two combat uniforms; a grey sweatshirt; and three pairs of combat boots.
Killed along with Degamo were Barangay Captain Florenda Quinikito of Brgy Fatima, Sta. Catalina, Brgy Kagawad Jose Marie Ramirez, drivers Jomar Canseco and Jerome Maquiling, civilian guard Crispin Vallega, and civilians Jessie Bot-ay, Joseph Retada and Michael Fabugais.
Injured and hospitalized were Dr. Liland Estacion, Cpl. Gerald Malones, Sgt. Edmar Sayon, David Toryan Cortez of Media 96.1 Voice FM, and civilians Fredilito Café, Lestor Chris Arnold, Marlo Quilnet, Fredilito Café, Chyrell Garpen, Rosa Banquerigo, Vickmar Rayoso, Mayben Jun Torremocha, Nikki Espinas and Pedro Flores.
Four out patients with minor injuries were civilians Diomedes Omatang, Raymond Baro, Rodelio Ragay Quinikito and Nikko Torres Alavaren.
Degamo was on his fourth term as governor.
He initially lost to candidate Pryde Henry Teves in the May 2022 polls but the Comelec declared Degamo the winner after invalidating the candidacy of a nuisance bet, Ruel Degamo, and adding his votes to Roel Degamo’s votes.
The Supreme Court, in a decision released February 14, confirmed Degamo’s electoral victory.*