BY JOEL CALAMBA ESCOL, Managing Editor
A top official of the Department of Justice (DOJ) told the media the “Pamplona Massacre” is now 99 percent solved following the arrest of the so-called mastermind by the National Bureau of Investigation. (NBI)
DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, however, told the media in an ambush interview to wait until Monday for the DOJ to reveal the latest breakthrough into the deadly killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and eight others on March 4, 2023.
Remulla did not name the identity of the suspect arrested by NBI operatives but hinted he was a big fish and in fact, one of the alleged masterminds in the “Degamo slay.”
“The NBI was able to catch a main player… a name we have not discussed, we have never discussed here. But practically, I would say in my reading of the situation, one of the masterminds was caught today,” the DOJ Official said.
He said the name of the apprehended mastermind was mentioned in the affidavit of one of the arrested suspects.
“He is really one of those that we were looking for. We were able to focus on that and I want to congratulate NBI for a job well done,” Remulla told the media.
With the latest development in the Degamo slay, at least twelve suspects are now in the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation, and two to three more are still at large.
But the DOJ Secretary, however, said Congressman Arnolfo Teves, Jr was still being considered as the primary suspect in the deadly massacre.
Meanwhile, Congressman Teves’ lawyers criticized the recent updates made by Remulla. Teves’ lead counsel Ferdinand Topacio accused Remulla of releasing the latest development with bits and pieces of information like a “striptease.”
STRIPTEASE
“Whatever was said by the person that needs to wait till Monday to announce? Do they need a weekend to work on this guy?” Topacio claimed.
“It’s like a striptease, isn’t it; undressing piece by piece. Why is it like a burlesque?” he said.
Topacio said the DOJ is allegedly referring to a certain Marvin Miranda, which sources say, acted only as a middleman between the masterminds and the gunmen who reportedly carried out the order to assassinate Governor Degamo inside his residence.
