Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 19) — The Department of Justice (DOJ) has formed a special task force that will look into the killings that occurred in Negros Oriental prior to the case of slain Gov. Roel Degamo, Sen. Francis Tolentino said Wednesday.
Tolentino, who proposed the formation of the task force during a Senate hearing on Tuesday, told CNN Philippines’ The Source that the body will focus on “all the 20 killings prior to the Degamo assassination.”
The number of cases being considered is lower than the 53 killings and attempted murders in the province that was earlier mentioned by lawyer Levito Baligod, counsel of the Degamo family and other murder victims in Negros Oriental.
Tolentino explained that these 20 cases were the ones whose representatives were present during the previous hearings after being issued with a subpoena.
He said the task force is expected to submit the necessary documents at 1 p.m. on Wednesday so the Senate can also look into these.
The three-man committee composed of DOJ prosecutors will also study the cases and refile such to finally attain justice for the victims and their families, he added.
Tolentino said what authorities will look into is the reason behind the murders as some were reportedly politics-related or due to land acquisition. They will also investigate the killings’ relation to the March 4 death of Degamo, he added.
Once completed, the senators are also eyeing possible reforms or legislation to address the issue.
In the case of those related to politics, senators can propose reconfiguration of the Omnibus Election Code and work on allowing the Commission on Elections to have power over the police in certain hotspots, Tolentino said.
Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa’s Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs is leading the hearing on the assassination of Degamo and others that happened in Negros Oriental.
During the hearing, Tolentino proposed to postpone the upcoming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections in Negros Oriental.
“Kung sasang-ayunan niyo po ako, i-postpone po natin ang Barangay (and SK) elections sa Negros Oriental,” Tolentino said. “Kung i-postpone po iyon, magkakaroon ng mas malakas na momentum ang ating peacekeeping forces.”
[Translation: If you would agree with me, let us postpone the barangay and SK elections in Negros Oriental. If the elections are postponed, we will have strong momentum in our peacekeeping forces.]
He also urged the Senate committee to invite Commission on Elections chairman George Erwin Garcia in the next scheduled hearing.
The alleged mastermind behind Degamo’s death, suspended Congressman Arnolfo Teves, has yet to return to the country after flying to the United States in February for medical purposes. His travel authority expired on March 9.
