Suspects in Teves assailants’ flight, lookouts charged

MANILA, Philippines — The alleged gunmen and other suspects implicated in the killing of then Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo have been formally charged before the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC), days after the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the indictment of suspended lawmaker Arnolfo Teves Jr., the alleged mastermind.

In a briefer released yesterday, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said among those charged with murder, frustrated murder and attempted murder with Teves were Capt. Lloyd Garcia II, Nigel Electona, Angelo Palatiw and Gee Ann, who are allegedly connected to the escape of the assailants using Teves’ helicopter.

Remulla said the statements of the alleged gunmen confirmed that Garcia, who had been working for the Teveses for nine years, flew them from Dumaguete to Mindanao after the attack.

“The (Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines) documents confirm that Garcia was the pilot-in-command of the helicopter that went from Dumaguete to Davao on March 6, 2023. Capt. Garcia did not submit a flight plan and passenger manifest of that flight,” the briefer read.

Siblings Palatiw and Gee Ann “served as civilian lookouts during the day of the shooting,” according to the briefer.

Alleged gunmen Joric Labrador, Joven Javier, Benjie Rodriguez and Jhudiel Rivero were also charged with murder before the Manila RTC Branch 51 on Aug. 18.

The DOJ prosecutors found probable cause to charge the gunmen based on witness testimonies, including that from the governor’s widow, Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo, as well as the recanted and extrajudicial confessions, paraffin and DNA test results.