Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 2) — The widow of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo said an arrested key suspect considered by authorities as one of the masterminds in her husband’s killing had targeted him since 2020.
According to Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo, former army reservist Marvin Miranda was previously arrested in Caticlan Port in Aklan on June 29, 2020 after a stash of firearms and ammunition were recovered from him and two other supposed cohorts. “Natutuwa tayo dahil the puzzle is almost completed na. Almost kasi one of the masterminds talagang itong nahuli na si Marvin,” Degamo said. [Translation: We are happy because the puzzle is almost complete. Almost, because of the arrest of Marvin, who is really one of the masterminds.]
Degamo said Miranda is believed to be a hired killer of Negros Oriental Representative Arnie Teves.
“Tapos nung makita namin ang mug shot parang ang address ay [doon] yata doon Bayawan City. All the more na naaano kami na it comes from the people from the south, sila Teves talaga ito.” The mayor stressed. [Translation: Then when we saw the mug shot, it seemed like the address was Bayawan City. All the more we believed, it comes from the people from the south, which is really the turf of the Teveses.] The late governor had expressed concerns about his life in a letter sent to some senators in September 2020. He particularly cited Miranda’s arrest at the Caticlan Port, whom he described as a henchman of the lawmaker. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on March 31 announced that the National Bureau of Investigation had arrested a key suspect in the killing of Governor Degamo. He, however, did not identify the suspect.
