Thousands of Negros Oriental residents , many of whom were seen weeping, cried for justice for slain Governor Roel Degamo as he was laid to rest at his family mausoleum in Barangay Bonawon, Siaton, Thursday afternoon, March 16.
The massacre of the governor and eight others in Pamplona, on March 4 has awakened the people to call for an end to the cycle of violence and killing with impunity in Negros Oriental, Dumaguete Bishop Julito Cortes said in his homily at the Requiem Mass at the St. Vincent Parish Church in Barangay Bonawon.
“We pray that the cycle of violence and unsolved killings in Negros Oriental end with him (Degamo),” Cortes said.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Gov. Roel Degamo under violent circumstances … May it be a consolation that although bullets took his life, his legacy of service and the memory his love for the people of Negros Oriental will live on,” Cortes said.
Cortez said Degamo died a hero of public service, especially for the poor.
“We believe that in His own time the Lord will restore our peace, our security and our freedom from fear and violence in this province,” the bishop said.
He reminded those present not to be “overcome by evil, rather overcome evil with good”.
Degamo’s widow, Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo, also cried for justice at his funeral.
“If something violent can happen to a governor always remember it can happen to anyone,” she said.
The police estimated the crowd at the funeral at about 10,000.*