MURDER CASE OF GOV.

DEGAMO

DNA from crime scene matches samples from 4 Degamo slay suspects

JUN 13, 2023 7:35 PM PHT

RYAN MACASERO

NSCENE OF THE CRIME. Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo (inset) was entertaining
4Ps beneficiaries inside the family compound in Barangay San Isidro, Sto. Nuebe in
Pamplona town on Saturday morning, March 4, 2023, when several armed men wearing
pixelized uniforms and in full battle gear entered at 9:36 a.m. and opened fire at the
governor and the crowd. Degamo and 23 others were hit. Five were pronounced dead on
arrival at different hospitals in Dumaguete City, while the governor and four others died
a few hours later. President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. released a statement
condemning the assassination and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice. Three
suspects were later arrested.
Blood analysis shows detained suspects’ presence in killings of Degamo, 9 others; Rep
Teves no show at DOJ’s hearing

BY JEFFREY DAMICOG

Jun 13, 2023 03:37 PM

The DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) analysis conducted by the National Bureau of

Investigation (NBI) showed that some of the detained suspects were indeed present
during the March 4, 2023 killings of 10 persons, one of them Negros Oriental Gov. Roel
R. Degamo, in the province’s Pamplona town.

The blood analysis was based on samples taken from the vehicles used by the detained
suspects and those blood stains lifted in Degamo’s residence where the killings took place,
the NBI said.

“‘Yung DNA na ‘yan pinapakita may mga ebidensya bukod sa mga salita. Kahit sabihin
nila hindi sila ‘yung naroon sa patayan, ‘yung dugo nila naroon sa patayan (The DNA
analysis showed that there are other pieces of evidence apart from statements. Even if
they said they were not in the crime scene, their blood was there),” Justice Secretary
Jesus Crispin C. Remulla said on Tuesday, June 13.

Meanwhile, suspended Negros Oriental 3 rd District Rep. Arnolfo “Arnie” A. Teves Jr. did
not appear at the preliminary investigation set Tuesday morning by the Department of
Justice’s (DOJ) panel of prosecutors.

Teves and five other persons have been charged with 10 murder, 14 frustrated murder,
and four attempted murder in the killing of Degamo, the deaths of nine other persons,
and injuries sustained by 18 others.
Remulla said the DOJ panel had issued a subpoena to Teves that directed the lawmaker
to appear at Tuesday’s hearing to submit a counter-affidavit to refute the charges.

“Hindi natuloy ang preliminary investigation, ang PI, sapagkat hindi sumipot si Cong.
Teves o ang kanyang mga abugado (The preliminary investigation did not push through
because neither Teves nor his lawyers appeared),” the DOJ secretary said.

Only the detained suspects were presented during the schedule hearing. Since their
lawyers did not also appear, they were represented by the Public Attorney’s Office
(PAO).

Teves is still abroad despite the expiration of his travel authority on March 9, 2023.

Remulla said the DOJ panel gave Teves and his lawyers another chance to appear on the
next preliminary investigation set June 27.

“If they could not take the process seriously then we might as well go to court for this if
they do not respect the DOJ to conduct the preliminary investigation,” he warned.

On the DNA analysis, Remulla said the results refute the recantations of the 10 detained
suspects who claimed that they were tortured in admitting that they and Teves were
involved in the Pamplona town killings.

“Ano ibig sabihin nun? Nandoon sila sa lugar. Kaya ‘yung salita na binabawi nila at
‘yung salita na sinasabi nila, ano paniniwalaan mo? (What does that mean? They were
there in the crime scene. So which one will you believe, their recantations or their original
statements?),” Remulla asked.

Meanwhile, lawyer Levito D. Baligod, counsel of the Degamo family, said the results of
the NBI’s DNA analysis was presented Tuesday before the panel of prosecutors
conducting the preliminary investigation of the complaint filed against Teves.

“‘Yung investigators natin (The investigators) took specimen from the vehicles used by
the shooters and then also the blood stains left in the compound of Gov. Degamo and
were subjected to DNA analysis as well,” Baligod said.

He said the DNA analysis confirmed the participation of four of the detained suspects,
namely, Rogelio C. Antipolo Jr., Winrich B. Isturis, John Louie L. Gonyon, and Jhudiel
R. Rivero.