ILOILO City – The question on the safety of the local chief executives (LCEs) has surfaced following the killing of Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo.
Mayor Jerry Treñas, for his part, said he trusts the Ilonggos as well as the local Philippine National Police (PNP) for his safety.
“It goes with the territory but I trust the Ilonggos and I do not have any enemy with a killer instinct . Furthermore, I trust the PNP in the city,” he told Panay News.
But while he has no security threat, he stressed it is still important to make sure his safety.
“Daw wala pa man so far but of course we just do everything to be safe,” he responded when asked if he received any death threat.
Treñas joined that whole nation and fellow LCEs in condemning the brazen killing of Degamo and eight others on March 4.
Meanwhile, Treñas commended the PNP for arresting the suspects.
“The whole country is watching this incident very closely. Everyone is affected by this brazen and brutal massacre inside the residence of a governor of the Republic. I join all the Filipinos in crying for justice for the family of the late Governor Degamo and all the people of Negros Oriental, ” Treñas added.
Yesterday, the PNP said it is getting closer to identifying those behind the attack.
PNP chief General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said in a press briefing in Camp Crame that four suspects have expressed willingness to cooperate with investigators.
“The continuing investigation into the death of nine persons in Negros Oriental, including Governor Roel Degamo, has uncovered promising leads from evidence and testimonies that will establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and the identification of key players in this multiple murder case,” Azurin said.
A fifth suspect was killed during an encounter around 9 p.m. Saturday in Barangay Cansumalig, Bayawan City, after he traded shots with law enforcers.
On Sunday morning, another suspect identified as Osmundo Rivero, a taxi driver, was arrested, also in Bayawan City.
He added that a lawyer from the Department of Justice (DOJ) is assisting the suspects in preparing their sworn statements and other legal documents.
The first three suspects arrested hours after the assault were Joric Labrador, 50, married, of Cagayan de Oro City; Joven Aber, 42, married, of Barangay Robles, La Castellana, Negros Occidental; and Benjie Rodriguez, 45, married, of Bonifacio, Misamis Occidental.
All three were former Army soldiers, one of them a Scout Ranger, but were dishonorably discharged due to alleged involvement in illegal drugs and for being absent without official leave.
In a press briefing also yesterday, DOJ undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty said more cases will likely crop up soon, with at least two individuals being eyed for inclusion in the Witness Protection Program.
The charges for possession of explosives and illegal possession of firearms were filed before the Office of the City Prosecutor of Bayawan, while the charges for the killings and injuries are pending before the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor of Negros Oriental, according to the DOJ. (With report from Philippine News Agency)/PN
