PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION. Complainants in the cases filed in relation to the assassination of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo leave for Manila on Monday (June 26, 2023) for the next round of preliminary investigation at the Department of Justice. Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo and 28 others will attend the second preliminary investigation. (Contributed photo)
DUMAGUETE CITY – Only complainants in Pamplona, Negros Oriental massacre where Gov. Roel Degamo was killed along with nine others will be attending the second preliminary investigation of the Department of Justice (DOJ) on June 27.
The slain governor’s widow, Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo, and 28 others, left Dumaguete for Manila Monday on board a C-130 Philippine Air Force aircraft.
DOJ will hold its second preliminary investigation in relation to the case for multiple murders, multiple frustrated murders, and multiple attempted murders under Article 248 of the Revised Penal Code, with respondents identified by the DOJ as suspended Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr (3rd District, Negros Oriental), Angelou Palagtiw, alias “Sister of Angelo Palagtiw”, a certain “Gee Ann” or “Jie Ann”, Niel Andrew Go, Capt. Lloyd Cruz Garcia II, and Nigel Electona, as shown in the DOJ notice.
Meanwhile, Mayor Degamo and eight other mayors of Negros Oriental signed on Sunday a joint statement supporting the proposed deferment of Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) in the province.
The postponement of the BSKE is “crucial to address the peace and order concerns that have plagued our province,” the group said in a statement.
Aside from Degamo, the other signatories are Dumaguete City Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo, Siaton Mayor Cezanne Fritz Diaz, Dauin Mayor Galicano Truita, Ayungon Mayor Dennis Amancio; San Jose Mayor Mel Nick Logronio; Guihulngan Mayor Filomeno Reyes; Tayasan Mayor Susano Antonio Ruperto; and Bindoy Mayor Eniego Jabagat.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will hold public hearings on June 27-29 on the proposed postponement of the scheduled Oct. 30 elections following tragic events that faced the province, particularly the killing of Degamo and nine others last March.
The mayors said the assassination of Degamo in Pamplona town last March 4 and many other previous killings and harassments in the past have raised questions and concerns on the peace and security in the province.
They noted that an “atmosphere of fear and intimidation” remains in the province, especially when some of the perpetrators and masterminds of previous killings are still at large.
The joint statement will be presented to proper authorities on Tuesday, the first of the three-day series of public hearings. (PNA)
