MANILA, Philippines — Even with the recantation of testimonies of all the accused gunmen in the so-called Pamplona massacre, the Philippine National Police (PNP) maintained it has strong evidence against the suspects in the attack last March that killed then Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo and nine other people.
Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan, the PNP’s public information officer, said the cases filed against the suspects, including the alleged mastermind, suspended Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr., are not based solely on the sworn statements of the gunmen.
Maranan said police investigators have obtained not only physical evidence at the crime scene but also testimonies from witnesses.
“We have numerous evidence that we think are more than enough to prosecute the suspects in the killing of Governor Degamo,” he said in Filipino during a news briefing yesterday.
Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos on July 6 met with officials from government agencies that form Task Force Degamo to get updates on the progress of the investigation, Maranan said.
Based on their records, Maranan said a total of 36 complaints were filed against the suspects – 10 murder cases, 17 complaints for frustrated murder and nine attempted murder charges.
Maranan said Abalos instructed members of the task force to gather more evidence to strengthen the cases against the suspects.
“The evidence that we have, we gathered properly like the statements of our witnesses,” he said.
Teves said yesterday that he wants to participate in the upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Marcos through teleconferencing but his colleagues at the House of Representatives want to expel him from the chamber.
“There is no reason to expel me but they can do that through a vote. My colleagues at the House are easy to pressure, if you do not follow, you are out,” he added.
The lawmaker reiterated that his suspension had no basis as his refusal to come home is justifiable, given the “serious threats” to his life.
“Why did you suspend me? And twice at that? You are forcing me to go home when there is no case against me,” he said.
Teves was slapped with a 60-day suspension, initially for failing to return to the Philippines despite the expiration of his travel clearance to the United States.
His other suspension was due to his application for political asylum, which other lawmakers say is an indication of his abandoning his responsibility as a lawmaker. — Sheila Crisostomo