Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 3) – Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla thinks that the assassination of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo is now a closed case after the arrest of one of the alleged masterminds and eleven of the suspected assassins.
“Meron pang at-large pero tapos na po. Nakita na natin kumbaga sa police case closed na ito. Prosecution na tayo pagkatapos,” Remulla said at a press conference on Monday.
[Translation: There are still those at large but it’s done. We see with the police that it is case closed. We now go to the prosecution.]
“But we know who masterminded it, at least two of them. We know who did it, yung labing-isang kasama [the 11 gunmen],” he added.
Authorities have also taken account of 12 suspects linked to the killing. Eleven of the gunmen who allegedly participated in the March 4 shooting of Degamo are under the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation. One was killed in a firefight with government forces on March 5.
READ: Suspect in Negros Oriental governor assassination killed in encounter – PNP
The two alleged masterminds Remulla named are Negros Oriental 3rd district Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. and former Army reservist Marvin Halaman Miranda.
Using filmmaking roles as an analogy, Remulla described the congressman as the “executive producer\” while Miranda was the “director” and “casting director” behind the March 4 shooting.
Teves allegedly funded the planning and weapons used during the assassination. Remulla claimed that the lawmaker was also the one instructing Miranda.
Teves left for the United States last February 28. He has since refused to return to the Philippines despite calls for him to face the accusations against him. Due to his continued absence, the House of Representatives suspended him from his post for 60 days.
Miranda — reportedly Teves’ long-time bodyguard — for his part recruited the gunmen, Remulla alleged.
Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos revealed that “all 11 surviving suspects pointed to Marvin Miranda[‘s involvement].”
The NBI arrested Miranda — who was trying to flee Negros Oriental — last March 31.
Remulla added that authorities had been searching for Miranda since the beginning of the investigation.
READ: Remulla: Rep. Teves appears to be ‘main mastermind’ behind Degamo killing
