DOJ takes precautions in handling Degamo slay case

NEGROS ORIENTAL – The Department of Justice (DOJ) said it will take further precautions in handling the case of murdered Gov. Roel Degamo after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he wants the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) to issue a Blue Notice against the suspects in the killing.

 “Well, we have taken precautions and we will take further precautions kasi padagdag nang padagdag ‘no iyong mga kaso natin. So all those that are in relation to the Degamo slay, we have taken concrete steps na maglabas po ng international lookout bulletin, pinagpag-usapan po natin ang paglagay ng mga tao sa blue list, sa Interpol ‘no – Blue Notice,” DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano said.

The color-coded notices, according to the INTERPOL website, are international requests for cooperation or alerts allowing police in member countries to share critical crime-related information and are issued by the General Secretariat at the request of a member country.

The Blue Notice states: “To collect additional information about a person’s identity, location or activities in relation to a criminal investigation.”

Clavano said the notice will allow the government to monitor the movements of the respondents. “We hope to do that maybe next week just so that we are aware ‘no doon sa movements ng ating mga respondents who may very well be involved in the Degamo slay and who may be vital doon sa ating investigation,” he said.

“Dahil po ilalagay na sila sa international lookout bulletin, mayroon po tayong records kung saan sila pumunta, anong petsa po sila umalis – iyon po ‘yung mga relevant data na makukuha natin dahil ilalagay po natin sila sa lookout bulletin,” he added.

Clavano noted that cases have been filed against the four gunmen that were arrested near the scene of the crime. He said the government is investigating 10 more people.

“Mas marami pa po ‘no sa sampu iyong na involved sa investigation ho natin. Lumalabas po sa mga statements na mayroon po tayong parang layering na tinatawag ‘no – so mayroon po tayong mga gunmen, mga directly involved po doon sa assassination bilang driver, lookout iyong mga ganoon… tapos meron ho tayong handler or parang middleman ‘no na tinatawag. So ito iyong nagsisilbing parang layer of security doon sa ating mastermind,” he said.

Clavano said the case buildup is “solid” and the government “just have to close all the little gaps.”

He said Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo Teves “is one of those that we are suspecting to be the mastermind behind the Degamo slay.”

He, however, noted that everyone has the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. “We cannot condemn ‘no, we have to let the wheels of justice turn. Hindi tayo pwede mag-convict sa media agad-agad, kailangan po dumaan sa tamang proseso,” he said.

Clavano said there are still eight cases filed against the lawmaker, following the dismissal of one illegal possession of firearms case that was dismissed. “So iyon po ‘no, gusto ko lang linawin iyon na, yes, na-dismiss po iyong kaso ni Congressman Arnie Teves doon sa isang kaso pero hindi po ibig sabihin na klaro na po iyong kaniyang record. Marami pa po siyang hinaharap na kaso ng illegal possession of firearms and explosives kasama po iyong mga anak niya and he still considered one of the suspects/as a mastermind behind the slay of Governor Degamo,” he said.

Reports said Teves, whose travel authority expired on March 9, has yet to return to the Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner)