By Nancy Carvajal
Slain Negros Oriental Roel Degamo had written several senators back in September 2020 to seek help protecting his family from alleged assassination attempts masterminded by his political rival, Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr.
Politiko saw a copy of the letter sent by Degamo dated September 20, 2020, in which he accused Teves of having “private armed group and goons.”
“Ako po si Governor Roel Degamo ng Negros Oriental ay sumasamo at dumudulog po sa inyo upang ipaabot po ang mga peligroso at delikadong kalagayan ng aking buhay at ng aking asawa na si Mayor Janice Degamo ng Pamplona, Negros Oriental,” Degamo wrote.
“Kami po ay patuloy na subject ng assassination plot mula sa grupo ni Congressman Arnie Teves, na kilalang warlord, gambling lord and drug lord sa aking probinsiya at may private armed group and goons,” he added.
The governor told senators he sought protection from the Philippine National Police but his request for security was rejected.
“Eto po ay diretsahang mensahe ko po sa inyo bago pa po ako at ang aking asawa maging bangkay ditto sa Negros Oriental ay kahit papano po ay naisiwalat ko po sa inyo ang katotohanang matagal na po naming kinikimkim ditto sa Negros Oriental,” he said.
Degamo’s wife said the governor was reportedly scheduled to fly to Manila this week to follow up on his request for additional security. However, he was shot dead at his home in Pamplona, Negros Oriental on March 4 while giving financial assistance to his constituents.
The ambush, which happened in broad daylight, also killed nine other individuals. Three suspects—two of them former soldiers—were arrested just hours after the shooting incident.
“We have written several senators and informed them of our predicament being continuously a subject of assassination attempts by armed men,” Pamplona mayor Janice Degamo told Politiko in a phone interview.
Degamo’s assassination happened barely a month after the Supreme Court upheld the Commission on Elections’ ruling dismissing petitions filed by Teves’ brother, Henry, questioning the results of the 2022 gubernatorial race in Negros Oriental.
Henry was unseated as governor after the Comelec ruled that votes for a nuisance bet named Ruel Degamo be counted in Degamo’s favor.
