Degamo camp sees another key player

MANILA, Philippines — There is another main player in the murder of Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo, an individual who infiltrated the slain local chief executive’s inner circle and provided vital information to the assailants.

Levito Baligod, counsel of the Degamo family, said the person, whom he refused to identify, was one of the three conduits of the masterminds in the governor’s killing.

“He is the one who gathered intelligence like developing informants inside the inner circle of governor Degamo,” Baligod told reporters on Monday afternoon.

Baligod was present during the press conference of the members of Joint Task Force Degamo headed by Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. and Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.

The lawyer said the person also planned the gunmen’s entry and exit plans into Degamo’s residence in Pamplona town.

Baligod said the two other conduits are Nigel Electona and Marvin Miranda, alleged close associates of Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr., whom Remulla suggested is the “highest mastermind ” and financier in Degamo’s murder.

Miranda, according to the government’s investigation, was the one who recruited the assailants and provided the weapons for the attacks.

Electona, meanwhile, was in charge of the safe houses, food and other finances of the gunmen.

With Miranda’s arrest, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said yesterday Degamo’s murder is nearly solved.

The PNP said Miranda, a former bodyguard of Teves, was responsible for providing money, firearms and vehicles used in the assassination.

“The PNP have been working tirelessly in coordination with National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Armed Forces of the Philippines for the resolution of this case,” the PNP said in a statement.

‘Repent’

Asked for his Lenten message to Teves, Remulla advised the lawmaker to repent.

“Repent. Time for us to look at our sins, and to repent,” Remulla told reporters yesterday.

The secretary also warned the congressman that the long arm of the law will soon catch up with him.

“The world will be a smaller place for him. It’s going to be very hard to run away from the law because there are many cases we have on the horizon,” Remulla said.

The department is also investigating Teves for his role in a string of political killings in Negros Oriental and for illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

As for Teves’ brother, deposed Negros Oriental governor Pryde Henry, Remulla said the DOJ is expecting him to submit counter affidavits and cooperate with the investigation.

“He doesn’t seem to be in the same boat as the older brother,” Remulla said.

‘We’ll face them in court’

The camp of Teves will just keep mum on allegations he was behind the murder of Degamo and will only discuss it once the case is finally filed in court, his lawyer said yesterday.

“Out of respect to the secretary of justice, we will no longer comment on his latest pronouncements regarding Cong. Teves. We will just await the filing of whatever charges may be made, and say our piece in the proper forum,” lawyer Ferdinand Topacio promised.

The defense counsel lamented that his client is being tried by publicity by Remulla following his revelations on an installment basis through mainstream and social media, where he has painted Teves as the mastermind.

“Again, we emphasize that the bar of public opinion is not the right venue to determine the guilt or innocence of anyone,” he reiterated, invoking the constitutional right of his client of presumption of innocence first until proven otherwise.

Topacio cited the case of suspect Miranda, whom the NBI had been hiding from his lawyer, even if he needs the assistance of counsel at this point, where circumstances surrounding his arrest is still sketchy, Topacio said.

“These acts evince not just the weakness of the government’s case, but an illegal scheme to manipulate the evidence to unfoundedly incriminate a person,” he explained, expressing fears Miranda might be forced by authorities to implicate Teves.

“Why are they being moved around the country against their will? Being denied the right to counsel and subjected to improper pressure and influence to make them testify falsely against Cong. Teves,” Topacio said.

He accused the NBI, the Department of Justice and the PNP of “violating the basic constitutional rights of those being detained in connection with the criminal investigations in relation to Cong. Teves,” in reference to Miranda.

Suspension

The 60-day suspension imposed on Rep. Teves by the House of Representatives may still vary as Degamo’s wife wanted Teves “expelled” from the chamber, Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Raul Angelo Bongalon said yesterday.

“We still don’t know what will happen. We’ll see. We’ll cross the bridge when we get there,” he said, reassuring the public that due process will always be observed by the House leadership, just like what it always does in other previous cases.

House secretary-general Reginald Velasco told reporters they have already sent Teves a copy of his two-month suspension, which is part of the due process protocol in the chamber, and that they are now in the process of reviewing the complaint of Degamo’s wife.

A total of 292 House members voted to suspend Teves, who has repeatedly refused to come home despite persistent calls from Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez to return since his Feb. 28 travel authority had lapsed last March 9. – Marc Jayson Cayabyab, Delon Porcalla