Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito on Monday questioned the Philippine National Police (PNP) for its failure to immediately identify private armies mobilizing against Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo. During a hearing of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, Ejercito said it was impossible for the PNP not to detect any assassination plot against the late Governor since video footage of the killing point to a well-coordinated operation. “Considering as we saw on the video, talagang well-trained. Talagang coordinated. Mukhang nag-practice ito in undertaking the assassination of Governor Degamo […] Sabi nga, ito ay failure of intelligence. Impossible na hindi maamoy na mayroong ganitong private armies o ganitong klaseng operation. Wala bang nakaamoy nito doon sa regional office o sa provincial office?” he asked. The lawmaker from San Juan lamented the PNP’s “failure of intelligence,” saying that Senators fought hard to increase its intelligence funds. “Nakakalungkot dito, we have been defending the PNP budget. Nagtutulungan tayo dito. May intelligence fund ang PNP na nasa P800 million. Paano ito na-utilize?” he said. PNP Central Visayas Deputy Regional Director for Operations PCol. Noel Flores explained that the PNP only received vague information about plans to kill Degamo, saying that they were not able to identify how these plans will be executed or who will implement them. “As per the former Provincial Director Col. Lizardo and his S2, he received information but not exactly what will happen or kung sino yung mga tao na may threat kay Governor Degamo. If my memory serves me right, the former PD also advised the late Governor,” he said. For his part, PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Director PBGen. Romeo Caramat Jr. said they were supposed to apply for a search warrant against a certain “main suspect.” However, the said application experienced delays since the PNP was “busy” with other concerns. “There were mini groups commissioned to assassinate Roel Degamo at nagcocoordinate na kami ng kanyang pinsan, who happens to be my mistah, Col. Rey Lopez, regarding the threat. Actually, may plano na kami doon sa main suspect natin na applyan ng search warrant. Medyo nahuli lang kasi busy na busy pa ang PNP,” he said. On March 4, Degamo, along with eight others, was shot dead inside his Pamplona home while facilitating the payout of medical assistance for clients of the provincial government. Most of the suspects were found to be former Army soldiers
April 18, 2023
Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito on Monday
questioned the Philippine National Police (PNP) for its failure to immediately
identify private armies mobilizing against Negros Oriental Governor Roel
Degamo.
During a hearing of the Senate Committee on
Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, Ejercito said it was impossible for the PNP
not to detect any assassination plot against the late Governor since video
footage of the killing point to a well-coordinated operation.
“Considering as we saw on the video, talagang
well-trained. Talagang coordinated. Mukhang nag-practice ito in undertaking the
assassination of Governor Degamo [...] Sabi nga, ito ay failure of
intelligence. Impossible na hindi maamoy na mayroong ganitong private armies o
ganitong klaseng operation. Wala bang nakaamoy nito doon sa regional office o
sa provincial office?” he asked.
The lawmaker from San Juan lamented the PNP’s
“failure of intelligence,” saying that Senators fought hard to increase its
intelligence funds.
“Nakakalungkot dito, we have been defending
the PNP budget. Nagtutulungan tayo dito. May intelligence fund ang PNP na nasa
P800 million. Paano ito na-utilize?” he said.
PNP Central Visayas Deputy Regional Director
for Operations PCol. Noel Flores explained that the PNP only received vague
information about plans to kill Degamo, saying that they were not able to
identify how these plans will be executed or who will implement them.
“As per the former Provincial Director Col.
Lizardo and his S2, he received information but not exactly what will happen or
kung sino yung mga tao na may threat kay Governor Degamo. If my memory serves
me right, the former PD also advised the late Governor,” he said.
For his part, PNP Criminal Investigation and
Detection Group Director PBGen. Romeo Caramat Jr. said they were supposed to
apply for a search warrant against a certain “main suspect.” However, the said
application experienced delays since the PNP was “busy” with other concerns.
“There were mini groups commissioned to
assassinate Roel Degamo at nagcocoordinate na kami ng kanyang pinsan, who
happens to be my mistah, Col. Rey Lopez, regarding the threat. Actually, may
plano na kami doon sa main suspect natin na applyan ng search warrant. Medyo
nahuli lang kasi busy na busy pa ang PNP,” he said.
On March 4, Degamo, along with eight others, was shot
dead inside his Pamplona home while facilitating the payout of medical
assistance for clients of the provincial government. Most of the suspects were
found to be former Army soldiers.