By Dominique Gabriel Bañaga
BACOLOD City – The two suspects from Negros Occidental implicated in the slaying of Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo do not have criminal records with the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO).
NOCPPO spokesperson, Police Capt. Judesses Catalogo, said they coordinated with local law enforcers for the backgrounds of Joven Javier and Rickyvelle Luces following their arrests.
Catalogo said the La Castellana town police records came up empty for Javier.
However, they did receive word that Javier’s parents had approached Mayor Rhumylla Manguilimutan for assistance.
Silay City police also came back negative for any criminal records for Luces, who was previously a resident of Hacienda Adela in Barangay Lantad.
The only record they were able to find was Luces’ previous affiliation with the Philippine Marines.
Despite this, however, Catalogo said they are digging deeper into the backgrounds of the two suspects.
On March 4, Degamo and eight other civilians were shot to death by gunmen at the former’s house in Pamplona, Negros Oriental.
The three other arrested suspects were identified as former soldiers Joric Labrado, Benjie Rodriguez and Osmindo Rivero.
Another suspect was killed in a shootout with law enforcers.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered the Department of National Defense to “suppress criminal activities and impunity” in the entire Negros Island. He also issued verbal orders to create a joint taskforce to step up and assist the ongoing joint AFP – Philippine National Police manhunt operations for more suspects./PN
