PNP says organized crime group behind Degamo assassination plot

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Sunday said an organized criminal group is behind the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, PNP Public Information Office chief Police Colonel Red Maranan explained that the suspects in the fatal shooting incident in Pamplona, Negros Oriental on Saturday were not just ordinary criminals.

“Meron itong grupo…Ang tawag natin dito sa mga ‘to ay organized crime groups sapagkat hindi naman ito mga ordinaryong kriminal kasi may mga sasakyan sila, matataas na kalibre ng baril, nakakakuha sila ng mga uniporme ng law enforcement agencies. So, isa talaga itong organisadong criminal groups,” he said.

(We call these organized crime groups because they are not ordinary criminals. They have cars and high-caliber guns, and they were able to get uniforms of law enforcement agencies. This is really an organized criminal group.)

A suspect in Degamo’s assassination died in an encounter with state forces on Saturday, while three other suspects were arrested during a hot pursuit operation.

Meanwhile, the death toll in the shooting incident at the official's residence has increased to nine, according to PNP Region 7 spokesperson Police Lieutenant Colonel Gerard Ace Pelare.

Maranan said that the motive behind the killing has yet to be determined as police continue to gather evidence.

He added that security has also been intensified for Degamo’s family, as well as the new Negros Oriental governor Carlo Jorge Joan Reyes, who was the vice governor of the province. Reyes was sworn into office as governor on Saturday.

“Tuloy-tuloy ang hot pursuit natin at ginagamit natin lahat ng resources ng PNP nang sa gano'n, sa lalong madaling panahon ay mahuli natin ang lahat ng suspek at maabot natin kung sino ‘yung mastermind. Unti-unti nang lumiliwanag ang kuwento,” Maranan said.

(Our hot pursuit operations continue and we are using all the resources of the PNP to catch all the suspects immediately and find out who is the mastermind. The story is already becoming clear.)

Last respects

Meanwhile, on Sunday morning, Speaker Martin Romualdez, Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos and PNP Chief Police General Rodolfo Azurin Jr paid their last respects to Degamo in Dumaguete City Sunday morning.

Speaker Martin Romualdez, DILG Sec Benhur Abalos Jr., & PNP Chief PGen Rodolfo Azurin Jr pay their last respects to the late Negros Oriental Gov Roel Degamo in Dumaguete City Sunday morning. @gmanews [camera] Office of the Speaker pic.twitter.com/8Cjr9ELFve

— Tina PanganibanPerez (@tinapperez) March 5, 2023

 —KG, GMA Integrated News