DOJ: NBI submitted additional evidence in Degamo slay

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has submitted additional evidence during the preliminary hearing on the murder complaints over the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, Department of Justice spokesperson Mico Clavano said Tuesday.

Clavano said the additional evidence includes pictures and videos which will further identify the accused at the scene of the crime, supporting the testimonies they gave before they recanted.

“These will automatically support ‘yung original statement nila na sila ‘yung nandoon mismo sa scene of the crime, doon po sa Pamplona,” he said in a media briefing.

[These will automatically support their original statements that they were at the scene of the crime, there in Pamplona.]

“And these recantations are just statements being taken back. But to put them up against actual object evidence such as pictures and videos will be hard for them to defend. So ito po ‘yung sinubmit nilang additional [These are the additional pieces of evidence submitted],” he added.

He said the NBI also submitted clearer copies of evidence that were already given earlier.

The probe was for the multiple murder complaints filed against suspended Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. and others for the alleged assassination of Degamo, an incident Teves has denied having a hand in.

Last week, accused Romel Pattaguan, Dahniel Lora, Osmundo Rivero, Joven Javier, and Rogelio Antipolo affirmed the recantations of their testimonies on the ploy virtually.

During Monday’s probe, accused Winrich Isturis, Joric Labrador, Benjie Rodriguez, Eulogio and John Louie Gonyon virtually affirmed their recantations.

Dilatory tactics

Clavano, meanwhile, hit the camp of the five accused who recanted on Monday for supposedly delaying the probe, saying that only the affidavits of recantation of Isturis and Labrador were originally signed.

He said the notarized affidavits of the Gonyons and Rodriguez were not originally signed.

“The lawyers for the complainant-witnesses do not seem to take the case seriously as they have submitted mere photocopies of their affidavits of their recantation and failed to attach copies they wish to recant,” Clavano said.

“[A]lam naman ho nating hindi naman pwedeng mag submit ng photocopies ng affidavits kaya ho, you know, we know naman we are dealing with lawyers who are professionals,” he added.

[We all know that we cannot submit photocopies of affidavits. We know that we are dealing with lawyers who are professionals.]

Clavano said that in this specific case, the lawyers seemed to have a lot of “dilatory tactics” to delaying the proceedings.

“Ang gusto lang naman ng departamento ay ma-file na ito sa korte para umusad na rin itong kasong ito,” he said.

(The department only wants to file this before the courts so the case will progress.)

“We have no choice but to respect the due process, the rights of these accused, and so we require them to submit the necessary documentation in the proper form,” he added.

He expressed hope that the parties in the case will file the necessary affidavits in the proper form in the coming hearings.

When sought for comment, Atty. Jord Valenton, the lawyer of the five accused, said they submitted one set of original copies and four sets of photocopies of their affidavits.

“The good DOJ Spox apparently is looking for said affidavits earlier executed. We do not have to furnish them copies of affidavits they themselves have caused to be executed,” Valenton told GMA News Online.

Degamo and nine others were killed while several others were injured after an attack on the late governor’s home in Negros Oriental on March 4, 2023. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News