11 Degamo slay suspects moved to Bicutan jail

By Rey E. Requejo

ELEVEN suspects in the killings of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and nine other people last March 4, 2023 have been committed to a prison facility of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Bicutan, Taguig City, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said on Monday.

Meanwhile, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has submitted for resolution the preliminary investigation into multiple murder charges filed against suspended Negros Oriental 3rd District Representative Arnolfo Teves Jr. in connection with the killing of Degamo and the nine innocent bystanders.

Remulla said those transferred from the detention facility of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Manila were Marvin H. Miranda, Winrich B. Isturis, Eulogio L. Gonyon Jr., John Louie L. Gonyon, Joric G. Labrador, Benjie Rodriguez, Jhudiel R. Rivero, Dahniel P. Lora, Romel A. Pattaguan, Rogelio C. Antipolo Jr., and Joven C. Javier.

According to Remulla, the transfer was requested by the NBI since the bureau’s headquarters in Manila will be demolished for the construction of a new and modern building.

Besides the deaths of 10 people, 18 others had been injured in the massacre in Degamo’s residence in Pamplona town last March 4.

Except for Miranda, the 10 other suspects have recanted their earlier confessions of complicity in the Degamo murder and implicated Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. as the mastermind.

“We do not have to take every recantation as gospel truth because of their previous statements,” Remulla said.

“So, it does not change anything if at all because recantations, as always said, are looked upon with disdain by the courts and even by the prosecution,” he added.

Likewise, Remulla said he will attend the next Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) meeting this month to discuss his recommendations to have Teves designated as a terrorist.

Teves, who has not returned to the country, has been tagged as a “mastermind” in the Degamo slaying. He has denied the allegations.

COA to PTNI: Liquidate P75m in DOT ad fees

THE Commission on Audit (COA) has reminded the government-run People’s Television Network, Inc. (PTNI) that it still has to account for P75.78 million in Department of Tourism (DOT) advertisements on the Kilos Pronto program.

The COA said two notices of suspension involving P60.009 million and P15.789 million, respectively, have already lapsed and matured into notices of disallowance (NDs).

In 2018, then DOT Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo resigned following the controversial ad placements of the department to Bitag Media Unlimited, Inc. operated by her brother Ben Tulfo.

The two notices of disallowance in the audit report were marked “under appeal”.

The Tulfos have denied any wrongdoing and refused to return the questioned amount.

The NDs concerning the Tulfos were included in the P128.612 million total NDs of the PTNI.

A copy of the audit report was reportedly received by the PTV board, as well as its general manager Julio Castillo, Jr. on June 8, 2023.