• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Department of Justice has offered a P5 million reward to anybody who can give vital information or evidence to charge and prosecute the perpetrators and masterminds behind the assassination of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo.
In a statement, the DOJ said that they will not rest until justice is met, as it vowed to uncover the killers and masterminds to be held accountable for the incident.
DOJ was instructed to investigate the incident.
Negros Occidental officials also joined the calls for the speedy justice for the killing of Gov. Degamo and eight others at his residence in Pamplona, Negros Oriental, on March 4.
The armed attack also injured 17 others, of which 13 are still being treated in various hospitals in Dumaguete City.
Negros Oriental Vice Gov. Carlo Jorge Joan Reyes assumed the position as governor, after taking his oath of office before Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamen “Benhur” Abalos Jr., several hours after the assassination of Degamo.
The new vice governor, Board Member Chaco Sagarbarria, also took his oath of office yesterday before Abalos.
The PNP also increased the security of newly-designated Gov. Reyes and the family of former Gov. Degamo.
PCol. Res Maranan, PNP Public Information Office chief, said that those involved in the killings are not ordinary criminals.
In separate statements, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer, siblings Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez and Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Benitez, as well as Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez, president of the Association of Chief Executives – Negros Occidental, all condemned the incident.
We need to put a stop violent crimes such as this, and I earnestly hope that justice will prevail, Lacson said.
I join the call to bring to justice the individuals who committed the despicable act, as I pray for peace in the Negros Island, Rep. Benitez said.
Mayor Albee Benitez, on the other hand, said “I am one with those who call for a swift justice, that the perpetrators be caught to face the consequences of their actions.”
In a statement, Mayor Javi Benitez said “such barbaric acts have no place in our civilized society.”
“Let the full arms of justice reach the perpetrators and that atrocities will no longer hunt us in the coming days,” he added.*
