Arraignment of Degamo slay suspects reset

MANILA, Philippines — The arraignment of 11 men accused of murdering the late Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo was deferred to another date.

The Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 40 yesterday deferred the arraignment of three of the suspects – Joric Labrador, Benjie Rodriguez and Joven Javier – on the charge of illegal possession of firearms, according to a GMA News report.

The new date for the arraignment was not mentioned in the report.

The suspects’ lawyers asked the court to tackle the motions to dismiss the charge, claiming that their arrest was illegal since no warrant was issued and should not be considered a hot pursuit operation.

The lawyers also noted inconsistencies in the allegations against their clients, saying the three men were not wearing police uniforms at the time Degamo was attacked on March 4.

However, the National Bureau of Investigation’s National Capital Region unit, which is handling the case, maintained that the DNA samples of the three men matched those found on one of those vehicles used in the attack on Degamo.

Meanwhile, ABS-CBN News reported that another court in Manila reset to Sept. 6 the arraignment of the three suspects and eight other men on charges of murder, frustrated murder and attempted murder in connection with Degamo’s death.