Degamo slay suspect recants, denies knowing Arnie Teves, Marvin Miranda

A suspect in the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo has recanted his testimony and denied knowledge of the assassination and its alleged masterminds, suspended Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. and Teves’ former bodyguard Marvin Miranda.

“Bale nire-recant na po ni Mr. Osmundo Rivero ang lahat ng kanyang mga sinalaysay na siya ay... isa sa mga suspect sa pagpatay at isa rin sa mga nagplano at isa sa mga kasama ng tatlo pa naming kliyente,” said Atty. Harold Montalbo, Rivero’s lawyer, in an ambush interview on Monday.

(Mr. Osmundo Rivero is recanting his statements that he is one of the suspects in the killing and the planning of the assassination along with our three other clients.)

In his five-page counter-affidavit, Rivero claimed he was coerced into pointing to Teves as the one who ordered the killing while at the headquarters of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Rivero further said that the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) lawyer assigned to him told him to just give in to the demands of the police to avoid getting hurt.

“Hindi totoo na may kilala akong Marvin. At hindi rin totoo na aking itinuro ang litrato ni Cong. Teves nang ipaturo sa akin sa apat na litrato sapagkat hindi ko siya kilala at kailanman ay hindi ko pa siya nakikita,” Rivero said in his affidavit.

(It’s not true that I know any Marvin. And it’s also not true that I pointed at the picture of Cong. Teves because I don’t know him and I never saw him.)

“Hindi rin totoo na alam ko ang mga naging pagpa-plano sa pagpatay kay Gov. Degamo at hindi rin totoo na pamilyar sa akin ang mga ginamit na baril at kasuotan dahil kailanman ay hindi ko ito nagamit o nakita,” he added.

(It’s also not true that I was aware of any ploy to kill Gov. Degamo and I am not familiar with the guns and the clothing used because I have never seen them.)

For his part, PNP chief Benjamin Acorda declined to comment on the development.

“With regards to those investigation sa Degamo, kung pwede ayoko muna mag comment… so as not to preempt any part of the investigation. Kasi mamaya baka ma-misquote ako or it may cause a negative effect on the investigation,” he said in an ambush interview. 

(With regards to the Degamo investigation, I would prefer not to comment for now so as not to preempt any part of the investigation. Because I may be misquoted or it may cause a negative effect on the investigation.)

Meanwhile, Atty. Jason Bandal, the PAO lawyer assigned to Rivero, denied Rivero's statements.

"There is no truth to it. I am not worried at all because I’m sure I have done everything right," Bandal said.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla previously said Teves appears to be the “main mastermind” behind the assassination of Degamo, citing testimonies of arrested suspects.

In April, the Justice Department said it will file charges against Miranda based on the disclosures of Rivero and other suspects in their extra-judicial confessions, which supposedly stated that “Miranda played an indispensable part in the planning of the assassination of the governor.”

Remulla also previously said that he was referring to Miranda when he said one of the suspects in the assassination had a video call with the mastermind.

Last week, however, Remulla said several suspects have started to not cooperate with the investigation as advised by their lawyers, adding that he expected them to recant their statements very soon.

On March 4, Degamo and eight others were killed while several others were injured after an attack on the late governor’s home in Negros Oriental. The death toll later climbed to 10.

Teves, who has yet to return to the Philippines due to fears for his safety, has denied involvement in the killing. He reportedly sought political asylum in Timor-Leste but was rejected.

The lawmaker has also confirmed that Miranda used to be his bodyguard but stressed that it has been a while since they communicated with each other.  —KBK/RSJ, GMA Integrated News