THE brazen and daring attack on the group of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo while distributing government cash assistance to poor residents of Pamplona town on Saturday morning, March 4, is just the latest of political killings in the country, and will probably be not the last.
Governor Degamo, who obviously was the target, died from wounds inflicted by bullets fired from high-powered rifles by military-trained killers.
Aside from him, the local police identified the eight other fatalities as Quinikito, Florenda, barangay captain of Barangay Fatima; Jose Marie Ramirez, barangay councilor; and civilians Jomar Canseco, Crispin Vallega, Jerome Maquiling, Joseph Retada, Michael Fabugais, and, Jessie Bot-ay.
Those seriously injured were Liland Estacion, head medical doctor of the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital; Corporal Gerald Malones and Sgt. Edmar Sayon, from the Army’s 11th Infantry Battalion; and civilians Lestor Chris Arnold, Marlo Quilnet, Fredilito Cafe, Chyrell Garpen, Rosa Banquerigo, Vickmar Rayoso, Mayben Jun Torremocha, Nikki Espinas and Pedro Flores.
‘The fact that it occurred while the nation is reeling from almost weekly murders and ambushes against local and national officials is also concerning.’
Also wounded was David Toryan Cortez, a local broadcast journalist who was among those covering the event, while Diomedes Omatang, Raymond Baro, Rodelio Ragay Quinikito and Nikko Torres Alavaren suffered minor injuries.
The police surmised that whoever is behind the killings are cowards who did not have the gut courage to do the killings but obviously had the money and the motive to implement it.
Col. Redrico Maranan, chief information officer of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said how the attack was carried out, especially with the use of former soldiers carrying high-powered firearms, is an indication that it was well-financed and well-planned.
“Money played a major role in this kind of incident. This kind of attack requires long planning and a big factor of it is money,” Maranan said.
The police spokesman, however, urged the public to refrain from speculating on the motive and possible mastermind of the killings, and wait instead for the result of the investigation, especially that a regional-level special investigation task group has been ordered created by PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin, Jr.
Incidentally, the PNP must be commended for acting swiftly, that led to the arrest of three former Army soldiers who were dishonorably discharged from the service because of involvement in drugs and in being absent without leave. The three, all corporals, are facing an investigation while a fourth gunman-suspect died in a shootout with police. Recovered from a house where their getaway vehicle was found was a cache of five assault rifles, a B40 rocket-propelled grenade launcher with five ammunition, four bandoliers fully loaded with plates, one rifle case, combat boots and combat uniforms.
This Pamplona massacre rivals the Maguindanao massacre of 2009 as the most serious incident of political violence for its audacity and terror. The fact that it occurred while the nation is reeling from almost weekly murders and ambushes against local and national officials is also concerning.
What is Malacañang doing?
