Secretary of the Interior and Local Government Benjamin Abalos Jr. called on the Philippine National Police in Negros Oriental to make sure that incidents similar to the killing of Gov. Roel Degamo and nine others in Pamplona town on March 4 do not happen again.
“For the men and women of the PNP, ang issue noon ay isang karumaldumal na akto, siguraduhin natin na hindi na mauulit ito (the issue then was a heinous act, let’s make sure it doesn’t happen again”, he said during his visit to the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office in Sibulan, Negros Oriental, on Saturday, July 8.
Abalos said that after the Pamplona killing, the national government and uniformed men worked cohesively and acted swiftly to bring the culprits to justice.
He said cases for murder, multiple frustrated murder and multiple attempted murder against Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. (Neg. Or., 3rd District) and his co-accused are under preliminary investigation with the Department of Justice.
Government has a strong case, he said.
Teves, who has denied having hand in the Pamplona killings, said he was a victim of political persecution.
Abalos told the PNP in Negros Oriental to do their work on the ground and the national government will give them all the support that they need.
“Economic development is always intertwined with peace and order,” he said.
A command conference also took place where the newly-installed NOPPO acting Provincial Director PCol. Ronan Claravall presented a report on the peace and order situation in Negros Oriental to Abalos.*