By Alec Go
The Philippine National Police (PNP) said it has ordered the relief of all Bayawan City Police Station personnel in Negros Oriental amid the ongoing pursuit operations for the suspects in the killing of Governor Roel Degamo.
Relieved staff will be replaced by Regional Mobile Force Battalion personnel with LtCol. Stephen Amamaguid from Cebu will be the new station chief.
LtCol. Gerard Ace Pelare, Special Investigation Task Group Degamo spokesperson, said the new Bayawan station personnel will take over the tasks of relieved personnel.
The relieved staff are set to undergo a 30-day Character and Aptitude Development Training program (CADET) on values formation, internal discipline, and PNP ethical standards, among others.
Pelare said “all of Negros Island is sealed” as pursuit operations continue.
Police presence was also intensified and supported by the military.
“The PNP is taking swift action to address the recent tragic event in Negros Oriental. We will do everything within our authority to bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice,” PNP Deputy Chief for Administration LtGen. Rhodel Sermonia said.
Degamo and eight other individuals were killed while the governor was attending to the needs of social welfare beneficiaries in Pamplona town on March 4.
Degamo sustained 11 bullet wounds. The PNP said the recovered bullets from his body match those of the assault rifles recovered in pursuit operations.
Testing is also being conducted on the prints recovered from the getaway vehicles, while owners of the vehicles are being investigated.
Four of the five suspects who were discharged from the military were arrested and one was killed in an encounter.
Pelare said two of the suspects are in Camp Crame while the two others are at the Department of Justice to be evaluated for the Witness Protection Program. – gb