Degamo's widow believes husband's killer previously threatened the governor

Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo, widow of slain Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, on Wednesday said she believes that the person behind the killing of her husband is the same person that threatened the governor in the past. 

“Iisa lang yan (It was the same person),” she told Dobol B TV.

“If you will go back, there was a time in Kalibo, an X-Trail was intercepted, loaded with guns and ammunitions. Someone tipped the governor that that vehicle is on its way to Negros Oriental for him,” she said.

Aside from this, the governor received more threats including one before he took his oath.

She added that many people approached Degamo and identified persons allegedly involved in killings, land-grabbing, and other crimes — politicians and “powerful people” in the province.

Degamo lobbied these concerns to other concerned government officials and agencies.

“In the history of this province, hindi mo makikita sa records na may binaril dahil kalaban niya si ganitong mayor, may congressman, may governor na binaril (In the history of this province, there is no record of a shooting of a rival mayor, congressman, or governor.)... But this group I was  talking about is a different kind," Janice said.

Meanwhile, the mayor supported placing two suspects, who gave extrajudicial confessions, under the witness protection program and said she sees it as a “hope” that mastermind will be identified. 

“Ano yan nakikita nating hope, na talagang ma-unmask natin the mind behind the killing (We see that as a hope that the mind behind the killing will be unmasked)," Janice said.

She also said that they had gathered strong evidence on the alleged mastermind, which the suspects had a video conversation as revealed by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.

“Wala kaming pinagusapang pangalan pero totoo po na medyo malakas yung evidence na gather to pin down the culprit, the mastermind,” she said in an interview with the media.

(We didn't talk about names, but it's true that the evidence gathered is strong enough to pin down the culprit, the mastermind.)

“We would like to uncover the mastermind so kung dapat lang na i-under witness protection program sila okay lang sa amin dahil rather than not knowing, rather than nasa mind lang natin kung sino at hindi mabigyan ng pangalan. Roel have been working very hard as a governor,” she added.

(We would like to uncover the mastermind so if they should be put under the witness protection program, that's okay for us because rather than not knowing, rather than we only have in our minds who they are and not be given a name. Roel has been working very hard as a governor.)

Degamo and five others were killed while 13 others were injured in the March 4 attack conducted while the governor was distributing aid to his constituents at his residence in Pamplona town. The death toll increased to nine on Sunday.

Degamo and five others were killed while 13 others were injured in the March 4 attack conducted while the governor was distributing aid to his constituents at his residence in Pamplona town. The death toll increased to nine on Sunday.

The police said they are looking for at least five more suspects who are still at large.

Government prosecutors have already filed murder and frustrated murder charges against four suspects in the killing of Degamo before the Tanjay City Regional Trial Court.

The cases were filed against Joric Garido Labrador, Joven Calibjo Javier, Benjie Rodriguez, Osmundo Rojas Rivero, and 12 John Does.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) said charges of illegal possession of firearms, ammunition, and explosives were filed against three individuals before the Bayawan City Regional Trial Court. 

Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Wednesday claimed that the "end is near" in the Degamo case as they have a video of the alleged mastermid. —VAL/RSJ/NB, GMA Integrated News