DILG orders manhunt for killers of Negros Oriental Gov. Degamo

The Department of the Interior and Local Government on Saturday ordered the Philippine National Police to conduct manhunt operations for the killers of Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo.

DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos said Saturday that personnel from the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office were deployed in the area to capture the suspects.

“Asahan ninyo na hindi kami titigil hanggang hindi nareresolba ang kasong ito gayundin ang iba pang insidente ng pananambang na nangyari sa mga nakalipas na araw. We will quickly get to the bottom of this,” Abalos said in a statement.

(We will not stop until this case is resolved, as well as the other ambush incidents recent days).

He also appealed to the witnesses of the incident to cooperate with the PNP to bring justice for the Negros Oriental governor.

Degamo was killed, while nine others were injured when armed men fired shots while the official was distributing aid at his residence in Pamplona, Negros Oriental on Saturday.

His family also announced that the governor passed away at 11:41 a.m., according to a report by Decemay Padilla of Super Radyo Cebu on Super Radyo dzBB.

An initial police investigation shows that six suspects wearing pixelized uniforms and carrying long firearms shot Degamo, who was entertaining beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) program at his residence in Barangay San Isidro.

Meanwhile, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Saturday denounced the killing of the governor and issued a stern warning to the perpetrators. —LBG, GMA Integrated News