DAVAO CITY — Seven hours after the gruesome attack, the police and military operatives in Negros Oriental arrested three well-trained government service personnel who now stand as suspects in the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Rodel Degamo and eight (8) others on Saturday at around 9:00 in the morning inside his residential compound in Pamplona town.
Degamo was shot by one of six men wearing Army uniforms and bulletproof vests who casually entered his residential compound in Pamplona town while he was meeting with beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and local officials on Saturday morning.
Police Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare, Spokesperson of the Special Investigation Task Group identified the three arrested suspects as Joric Labrador, an ex-army from Cagayan De Oro City; Joven Aber 42, an ex-army ranger from La Castellana, Negros Occidental; and Benjie Rodriguez from Bonifacio, Misamis Occidental.
The suspects were arrested after their exit vehicle was identified.
Recovered from their possessions were one unit of .45 caliber Springfield pistol, one magazine load of live ammunitions, and 3 identification cards.
“As far as we know, these suspects were dishonorably discharged from the service for Absence Without Leave and drug charges,” Pelare said.
Last night the operatives went to Barangay Cansumalig in Bayawan town, following the leads given by the suspects but upon reaching a sugar plantation, a still unidentified gunman fired at them prompting the team to retaliate which resulted to the killing of the still unidentified suspect. “One suspect was killed last night during the firefight, he is still unidentified as of the moment, and we are making efforts to identify him,” Pelare said.
On Sunday, March 5, at around 1 a.m. the operatives recovered firearms, Kevlar Vest, 5.56mm ammunitions, three combat boots, and military uniforms.
The Pamplona Municipal Police Station released the names of the fatalities and the injured victims
The fatalities:
- Roel Ragay Degamo, Provincial Governor
- Jessie Bot-ay
- Jose Marie Ramirez, Barangay Councilor
- Jomar Canceco, Driver
- Crispin Vallega, Security Guard
- Jerome Makiling, Driver
- Quinikito, Florenda, Barangay Captain, Fatima, Santa Catalina town
- Joseph Retada
- Michael Fabugais
Wounded:
- Chris Arnold Lestor
- Mario Quilnet
- Dr. Liland Estaclon, Head, Medical Doctor, NOPH
- Cpl. Gerald Malones, Philippine Army, 11IB
- David Toryan Cortez, Radio Reporter, 96.1 Voice FM
- Fredilito Café
- Cheryll Garpen
- Rosa Banquerigo
- Vickmar Rayoso
- Mayben Jun Torremocha
- Nikki Espinas
- Pedro Flores
- Sergeant Edmar Sayon, Philippine Army, 11IB
Outpatient with minor injuries: 1. Diomedes Omatang Civilian; 2. Raymond Baro, Civilian; 3. Rodelio Ragay Quinikito, Civilian and; 4. Nikko Torres Alavaren, Civilian.
One of the suspects reportedly told an investigator, they were were hired to kill Degamo for P10-million.-Bobby Lagsa
