Pamplona massacre

The Pamplona massacre was a mass shooting and assassination incident that took place at Pamplona, Negros Oriental in the Philippines. On March 4, 2023, at approximately 9:36 A.M. (PhST), a group of former members of the Philippine military stormed the residence of Roel Degamo, the governor of Negros Oriental, in Pamplona and killed Degamo, the target, as well as nine others.[1] The attack happened during the distribution of aid to the local beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.[2] Degamo was rushed to a nearby provincial hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11:41 A.M. (PhST).[3]

Pamplona massacre
The residence of Roel Degamo few hours after the attack
LocationPamplona, Negros Oriental, Philippines
Coordinates9°24′16.9″N 123°01′14.8″E
DateMarch 4, 2023 (2023-03-04)
c. 9:36 am (PhST)
TargetRoel Degamo
Attack type
Shooting, assassination
Deaths10 (including Degamo)
Injured12
MotiveUnder investigation, possibly politics

An investigation was launched by Philippine authorities after the attack. Politics was considered to be the primary motive behind the attack, as Degamo was involved in a contested May 2022 gubernatorial election which saw him assuming the office for a fourth term after winning an electoral protest against Pryde Henry Teves, who was proclaimed winner of the elections. Eleven suspects were arrested by the police in multiple operations across the province. Two of the suspects named a certain 'Cong Teves' as the mastermind in an ambush interview with the media.[4] Negros Oriental 3rd District representative Arnolfo Teves Jr., who was abroad during the attack, was suspended and later expelled by the House of Representatives following his failure to return to the country to face investigation. The Philippine Senate also launched an inquiry regarding the incident, and invited the representative via teleconferencing but ultimately withdrew due to legal uncertainties. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla considers the representative to be the 'highest mastermind' of the attack.[5]

Background

Roel Degamo was the governor of Negros Oriental at the time of his assassination. He became governor in January 2011, after Governor Agustin Perdices died. Perdices himself assumed the post following the death of Governor Emilio Macias II. Degamo was elected governor in 2013 and was reelected in the 2016 and 2019 elections.[6]

Degamo ran for a fourth term in 2022 election, but lost to Pryde Henry Teves who was proclaimed governor. Degamo filed an electoral protest before the Commission on Elections. A recount was made, with votes for a nuisance candidate named Ruel Degamo considered as a vote for Roel Degamo. The final tally of the recount concluded Degamo as the winner and Teves' proclamation was nullified.[6] Degamo took his oath as governor on October 5, 2022, while his rival Teves voluntarily stepped down from his position on October 11, 2022.[7][8]

Shooting
Degamo in 2019

On March 4, 2023, at approximately 9:36 a.m., Degamo was shot several times by unidentified men at his residence in Pamplona, Negros Oriental. He was distributing aid to local beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) conditional cash transfer program when the attack happened.[9][10] He was rushed to Negros Polymedic Hospital in Sibulan, but was pronounced dead at 11:41 a.m.[11][12][13]

Eight other people were also killed in the shooting;[14] another died more than two months later.[2] The dead included a barangay kagawad (councilor) and another civilian who were mistaken as Degamo's bodyguards.[15]

On March 16, 2023, Degamo was interred in their family mausoleum at his hometown of Siaton.[16][17]

Four suspects were arrested in Bayawan while another died in an encounter with state forces.[18][19][20]

Suspects

Eleven suspects, all former military men, are under police custody by April 3; nine of them are former personnel while others were a reservist and a trainee. Six of them were arrested while the rest surrendered.[21][22][23] One of those arrested was one of the alleged masterminds, former Army reservist Marvin Miranda.[22][24] Another suspect killed in pursuit operations was later identified as Arnil Labradilla of Bindoy, a former New People's Army rebel.[25]

Murder and frustrated murder charges were filed by Department of Justice prosecutors against four of those arrested (as listed below) as well as twelve John Does before the Tanjay Regional Trial Court (RTC); also, charges of illegal possession of firearms, ammunition, and explosives against three of them before the Bayawan RTC.[26][27] Those indicted over the assassination include:[28][29][30]

Upon request by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, these criminal cases were later transferred by the Supreme Court to the Manila RTC[27] wherein the cases against seven more suspects, including Miranda, were later filed.[31] A total of 39 complaints have been filed in relation to the incident: ten for murder, 17 for frustrated murder and nine for attempted murder;[32] in addition to one for illegal possession of firearms and two for illegal possession of explosives.[21]

It was reported that there are "more or less" five other suspects.[33]

DOJ later confirmed that on August 18, charges of frustrated murder, attempted murder and murder were filed against another alleged mastermind, then-expelled Negros Oriental's third district representative Arnolfo Teves Jr., and four other individuals, before the Manila RTC. Teves and his co-accused Nigel Electona are among the members of the so-called Teves group who were earlier designated by the Anti-Terrorism Council as terrorists.[34]

Alleged mastermind

The Degamo family speculated that the killing had a political motive pointing out previous killings in the province, some dating prior to the 2022 elections, of supporters of Degamo.[35] Degamo's wife and Pamplona mayor, Janice Degamo, believed that the mastermind was "very known in the country today" but did not specify any name.[36]

Joint Task Force Negros spokesperson Major Cenon Pancito III said that the mastermind could be a former soldier.[37]

'Cong Teves'

Suspects Labrador and Rodriguez on March 9, 2023, pinned a certain "Cong Teves" as the mastermind of the shooting. They testified that they were tasked to kill the governor and was told that the provincial executive was a drug lord. They said they had not met this individual personally.[38][39]

Among the politicians of Negros Oriental who have served as a member of the House of Representatives bearing the Teves family name were Degamo's rival Arnolfo Teves Jr., and former governor Pryde Henry Teves.[40][39]

In a privilege speech in Congress, Talino at Galing ng Pinoy (TGP) party-list representative Jose "Bong" Teves Jr. clarified that he was not the "Cong. Teves" referred to by the suspects. He pointed out, that despite sharing his family name with the Teveses of Negros island, that his family hails from Catanduanes in the Bicol Region.[41]

Arnolfo Teves Jr.

Earlier, to dispel speculations that he was involved in the killing, Arnolfo Teves Jr. said he was undergoing stem cell treatment in the United States at the time of the attack and therefore could not have planned the assassination.[42] He also pointed out that his brother Pryde Henry could not replace Degamo as governor and that the vice governor was his only suitable successor by law.[43]

Following Degamo's killing, Teves Jr. refused to go home to the Philippines, citing concerns over his safety. By April 2023, his whereabouts became unknown, with the Department of Justice saying he was in Cambodia, and Senator Joel Villanueva saying he was sighted in South Korea.[44][45]

On May 9, Teves had an application to seek political asylum in Timor Leste rejected.[46] The following day the Department of Justice was informed that a blue notice was issued against him by Interpol.[47] On July 26, 2023, the Anti-Terrorism Council designated him, his brother Pryde Henry and 11 others as terrorists due to their links to "alleged killings and harassments," including Degamo's murder, in Negros Oriental.[48] This was the first time the council designated an elected official as a terrorist.[49] In response, Teves criticized President Bongbong Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, several members of his cabinet, House Speaker Martin Romualdez and others in an online press conference for using his case to distract from other issues in the country, while his lawyer called his terrorist designation an "overreaction".[50]

On August 18, charges related to the incident were filed against Teves at Manila RTC. Teves is also facing another, separate murder complaint over the deaths of three individuals in 2019.[51] On 5 September, the court released an arrest warrant for Teves over Degamo's murder.[52] As of 13 September, the Justice Department believes that Teves is in hiding somewhere in Southeast Asia, purportedly under the protection of local warlords.[53]

Investigation

The Degamo family was open to suspects being placed under the government's witness protection program (WPP), to aid the investigation on the case.[54] Two suspects were placed under the WPP.[30]

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla also disclosed that they retrieved a video of the suspects discussing the planning of the assassination.[55]

Senate hearing

The Senate Public Order and Dangerous Drugs Committee launched a probe on Degamo's killing. The first public hearing was held on April 17, 2023.[56]

Arnolfo Teves Jr. was to join via video teleconferencing but senators disproved his participation over uncertainty of whether he would be legally able to testify under oath.[57] Senator Francis Tolentino pointed out that Teves could be able to testify under oath in future hearings by appearing physically in one of the Philippines' diplomatic missions and a military attaché could enforce a contempt order when needed.[56] Senator Ronald dela Rosa initially allowed Teves to participate virtually, which was opposed by Janice Degamo, who believed it would be unfair to those would attend physically to give a 'fugitive' such accommodation.[58]

Response

President Bongbong Marcos attended Degamo's wake and vowed to "bring justice" in Negros Oriental.[54] Marcos and other governors from other provinces condemned the killing.[59] Marcos ordered the formation of a special panel of prosecutors to look into killings in Negros Oriental including Degamo's assassination.[60]

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos issued a directive calling for the replacement of all police personnel in Negros Oriental following the assassination.[29]

The Commission on Elections vowed faster resolution of election-related protests after Senator Risa Hontiveros said that the Teves–Degamo electoral protest was related to the assassination.[61] Senate President Migz Zubiri described the shooting as an act of political terrorism.[62]

The Region 7 office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development provided ₱513 thousand worth of financial assistance to survivors and relatives of those who died from the attack.[63]

On August 16, 2023, Arnolfo Teves Jr. was unanimously expelled by the House of Representatives due to his abandonment of duty, prolonged absence, and "indecent behavior on social media." With this, he became the first expelled representative since the ratification of the 1987 Constitution that restored the Congress.[64] In response, Teves' lawyer called the body a "kangaroo court".[65]

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