BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Gov. Roel Degamo of Negros Oriental said yesterday the three individuals arrested in Malay, Aklan were involved in a plot to assassinate him and his wife.
Degamo said he and his wife have been alerted by his people in Metro Manila that three men plotting to kill them boarded a roll-on/roll-off vessel in Batangas bound for the Caticlan Jetty Port in Malay.
The attempt on their lives was foiled after police in Western Visayas were informed of the suspects’ arrival.
Police identified the suspects as Marvin Miranda, 31, an Army reservist and resident of Villareal, Bayawan City, Negros Oriental; Mario Puyal, 62, a retired Army soldier and resident of Barangay Ususan in Taguig City; and Adolfo Obiacoro, 34, a tricycle driver of Imus, Cavite who claimed to be temporarily residing in Bayawan City.
Recovered from the suspects around 9 p.m. on June 29 were assorted short and long firearms, several rounds of ammunition and other personal items and documents.
The governor believes all three are members of a local gun-for-hire group.
He thanked the members of Police Regional Office-6, especially the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, and the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division for successfully intercepting the suspects.
All three are facing charges for violation of Republic Act 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act and for violation of quarantine protocols.
Asked for the possible reason for the attempt on his life and that of his wife, Degamo believes it had something to do with the decision of the Supreme Court that he could still run as governor in the 2020 elections.
Referring to political detractors while not mentioning names, Degamo said because they cannot defeat him, “the only way to do it is to eliminate me and my wife”.
“In the next elections, I am telling you that I am running again as governor of the province of Negros Oriental),” he added. (With a report from PNA/PN)
