Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 4) — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Tuesday submitted more evidence proving the identities of the alleged gunmen in the murder of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo to the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Justice spokesperson Mico Clavano said the photos and videos from the NBI will help pinpoint the suspects at the scene of the crime even amid the gunmen’s recent recantation of their statements.
“This will automatically support ‘yung original statement nila na sila ‘yung nandoon mismo sa scene of the crime, doon po sa Pamplona,” Clavano said in a briefing.
[Translation: These will automatically support their original statements saying they were at the scene of the crime, in Pamplona.]
“These recantations are just statements being taken back. But to put them up against actual object evidence, such as pictures and videos, will be hard for them to defend. So ito po ‘yung sinubmit nilang additional [So here are the additional pieces of evidence that the NBI submitted],” he added.
The NBI also sent clear copies of existing submitted evidence to the DOJ before, Clavano added.Last week, accused Romel Pattaguan, Dahniel Lora, Osmundo Rivero, Joven Javier, and Rogelio Antipolo affirmed the withdrawal of their testimonies while former soldiers Winrich Isturis, Joric Labrador, Benjie Rodriguez, and Eulogio and John Louie Gonyon affirmed theirs during Monday’s probe.Clavano also accused the gunmen’s camp of using “dilatory tactics,” noting that Isturis and Labrador submitted original copies of their affidavits, while the rest submitted photocopies.The DOJ spokesperson also noted that the lawyers of the suspects “do not seem to take the case seriously,” citing the missing copies of affidavits. He added that he hopes they will file proper affidavits in the following hearings.It seems there are tactics being employed by lawyers on the other camp to delay the proceedings, and we have no choice but to respect the due process, the rights of the accused, and so we required them to submit the necessary documentation in the proper form,” he added.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has accused the suspects of conspiring to cover up the crime after several of them recanted their statements.
