MANILA – Department of Justice (DOJ) secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla yesterday said another key figure in the March 4 attack that killed Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo was captured.
Suspect Marvin Miranda was arrested on March 31 by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Barangay Mayabay, Barbaza, Antique, said Remulla in a press conference in Camp Crame.
The DOJ chief identified Miranda as one of the “major players” behind the attack that also killed eight others.
He also tagged suspended Negros Oriental 3rd District’s Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. as “the producer or executive producer of the whole production.”
“Kung sa analogy ‘to ng movie, si Marvin was a director, producer of the props and casting director. Siya ‘yung nag-recruit ng mga tao,” he added.
In the same briefing, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said Miranda is the “missing vital link”.
“Napaka-importante ng taong ito (Miranda) base sa rebelasyon at confessions ng arrested suspects, including a discharged former AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) member who had direct participation in the killing of Gov. Degamo,” said Abalos.
He disclosed that Miranda, on orders of a certain person known as “Boss Idol”, “Big Boss” or “Kalbo”, recruited the suspects and the person who provided them with the logistics and material support during the planning and execution of the assassination.
Miranda, a long-time security staff and bodyguard of Teves, had criminal records and was arrested on June 29, 2020, for illegal possession of firearms.
He pleaded guilty to a lesser offense and was meted with up to two years in jail, added Abalos.
“We are now at the tail end of our quest for justice, and hunt for the masterminds behind the death of Gov. Degamo and eight others and wounding of many more victims. And with the arrest of Marvin Miranda, we are certain that the pieces of the puzzle are almost complete and we can clearly picture out what really transpired before, during and after the brazen attack in Pamplona, Negros Oriental which will eventually help us in unmasking and identifying the main conspirators and masterminds behind the gruesome murder of Gov. Degamo and others,’’ he stressed. (PNA)/PN
