Another victim in attack on Degamo succumbs to injuries

One of the persons wounded in the attack on Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo has died of his injuries, the camp of the slain provincial chief executive has said.

According to a post on Degamo's Facebook, Fredilino Cafe, Jr. had been in and out of the hospital since the fatal shooting on March 4.

"His death marks the tenth victim of the Negros Oriental massacre that occurred two months and three days ago in the residence of Governor Degamo," the post read.

Degamo's widow, Pamplona, Negros Oriental Mayor Janice Degamo, shared the post and bid Cafe to rest in peace.

Cafe was an employee of the Provincial Engineering Office of Umanod, Santa Catalina. 

His death brought to ten the persons who were killed in the attack on Degamo.

The post was also shared by Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo, the late governor’s widow, as she wished Cafe to rest in peace.

In an ambush interview, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the complaints previously filed against the six suspended in the shooting may be amended.

“They will just file a manifestation with the prosecutors that one of the victims who was a complainant has— for serious physical injuries… has passed away, thereby converting his case to a murder case,” Remulla said.

The prosecutors of the Department of Justice have filed murder and frustrated murder charges against 10 suspects in the shooting.

According to Remulla, they are seeking to file the case against suspended Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. this week.

“We’re looking at this week to finish it and trying to— I just had a meeting this afternoon with the— one of the prosecutors asking him about the progress of the cases and they want to firm up everything before they file the cases against Congressman Teves,” Remulla said.

Remulla had previously said that Teves appears to be the mastermind behind the killing, likening him to an executive producer.

Teves, for his part, has repeatedly denied involvement in the assassination. He has also yet to return to the country due to fears for his safety.

In reaction to Teves’ camp questioning the evidence of authorities against the lawmaker, Remulla assured that they had evidence.

“Marami po ebidensya, wag siya magalala. The evidence is very tight here with us. It’s just that the information is very much what we can call voluminous,” Remulla said. —NB, GMA Integrated News