DOJ chief unmasks ‘director’ of Degamo slay plot

FILE: DEVELOPMENTS. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, with Bureau of Corrections chief Gregorio Catapang Jr. behind him, faces the media at the Department of Justice in Ermita, Manila on Monday (March 27, 2023). Remulla gave updates on the Roel Degamo slay case and administered the oath of office of Catapang. (PNA photo by Yancy Lim)

MANILA – Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Monday said another key figure in the March 4 attack that killed Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo has been captured.

In a press conference in Camp Crame, Remulla said suspect Marvin Miranda was arrested on March 31 by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Barangay Mayabay, Barbaza, Antique.

Remulla identified Miranda as one of the “major players” behind the attack that also killed eight others.

The DOJ chief also tagged suspended Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. as the “the producer or executive producer of the whole production.”

“Kung sa sine natin titingnan ito, analogy to ng movie, si Marvin was a director, producer of the props and casting director. Siya ‘yung nag-recruit ng mga tao, siya ang talagang kumuha sa mga tao at nag-recruit sa kanila (If this were a movie, Marvin is the director, props producer and casting director. He was the one who recruited people),” he added.

In the same briefing, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said Miranda is the “missing vital link” and “one of the main conspirators” behind the assassination of Degamo, based on the testimonies of the other suspects who were either arrested or surrendered.

“Napaka-importante ng taong ito (Miranda). Base sa rebelasyon at confessions ng arrested suspects, including a discharged former AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) member who had direct participation in the killing of Gov. Degamo (This person is very important. Based on the revelation and confession of the suspects including a discharged former AFP member),’’ Abalos told reporters.

Abalos disclosed that Miranda, on orders of a certain person known as “Boss Idol”, “Big Boss” or Kalbo”, recruited the suspects and the person who provided them with the logistics and material support during the planning and execution of the assassination.

Records showed Miranda was a long-time security staff and bodyguard of Teves, had criminal records, and was arrested on June 29, 2020, for illegal possession of firearms.

Abalos said Miranda pleaded guilty to a lesser offense and was meted with up to two years in jail and a fine of PHP10,000 by an Aklan court.

“We are now at the tail end of our quest for justice, and hunt for the masterminds behind the death of Gov. Degamo and eight others and wounding of many more victims and with the arrest of Marvin Miranda, we are certain that the pieces of the puzzle are almost complete and we can clearly picture out what really transpired before, during and after the brazen attack in Pamplona, Negros Oriental which will eventually help us in unmasking and identifying the main conspirators and masterminds behind the gruesome murder of Gov. Degamo and others,’’ he stressed.

Case closed

Remulla said politics played a major part in Degamo’s killing.

“Kumbaga sa pulis, case closed na ito, prosecution na tayo pagkatapos, but we know who masterminded it. (In police terms, this is already case closed. We are now in the prosecution phase but we know who masterminded it),” Remulla said.

When asked when charges against Teves will be filed, Remulla said they have to observe “due process”.

“He can answer questions in the preliminary investigation. That will make our job easier and it will make it easier for all of us Filipinos na (that) we can remove uncertainty,” Remulla said when asked if Teves will be immediately arrested once he arrives in the country.

However, Remulla expects a warrant of arrest to be issued against Teves any time.

“We will move on to the next cases afterwards but of course there will be other edges that we will have to smoothen out dito sa kasong ito (in this case) but we believe we are there already on the way to achieving justice in more ways than one,” Remulla explained.

Aside from Miranda, the 10 other suspects under the custody of the NBI are Osmundo Rivero, Joven Javier, Joric Labrador, Benjie Rodriguez, Winrich Isturis, Dahniel Lora, Rommel Pattaguan, John Louis Gonyon, Eulogio Gonyon Jr., and Rogelio Antipolo Jr.

“We have accounted for all those directly involved in the killing of Governor Degamo and eight of the 11 have been or will be charged with multiple murder, frustrated murder as well as attempted murder. In addition, some of the suspects will be charged with illegal possession of firearms and explosives,” he added.

Hunt vs. ‘spotters’

Abalos, meanwhile, said the police officers who allegedly served as “spotters” in the attack will be investigated and punished accordingly.

This information is based on the revelation of lawyer Levito Baligod, counsel for the Degamo family.

Abalos asserted that the National Police Commission will investigate the complaint against the police officers who will be suspended during the course of the probe and dismissed from the police service if warranted.

Baligod mentioned that the widow of the slain governor, Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo, expressed satisfaction over the course of the investigation, specifically the cooperation exhibited by various government agencies.

He revealed that there are more witnesses claiming that they have pieces of evidence that point to several police officers who served as spotters of the killers of the victims.

Baligod pointed out records that showed 64 other killings “even before the March 4 incident’’, informing Abalos that other persons are now ready to cooperate with government authorities provided that they are given ample security.

On March 26, the Special Investigation Task Group of the Police Regional Office-7 (Central Visayas) raided Miranda’s house in Bayawan City, where illegal firearms and ammunition, hand grenade and photos of Degamo, his family as well as their residence, were recovered.

Miranda was not around during the raid.

Abalos also revealed that one of the long firearms (sniper rifle) seized in a raid in a property owned by Teves’ brother, former Negros Oriental governor Pryde Henry Teves, was registered under the embattled lawmaker.

Remulla earlier said there were two plots to kill Degamo — through a sniper and with a rifle grenade.

“We are confident that with all the pieces of evidence at hand our pursuit of justice is within our sight,” Abalos said.

“All of these things, testimonies, forensic etcetera, lahat po ito mag-uugnay sa (these would be linked with the) mastermind,” he added. (With reports from Benjamin Pulta/PNA)