Gunmen who killed 10 at Degamo recant statements against Teves

Former Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo and nine others were killed in the so-called Pamplona Massacre on March 4 by 10 gunmen who allegedly named suspended Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. as the mastermind.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) conducted a preliminary investigation yesterday in which former soldiers Winrich Isturis, Joric Labrador, Benjie Rodriguez, Eulogio and John Louie Gonyong affirmed their recantations.

Gunmen Joven Javier, Dahniel Lora, Romel Pattaguan, Jhudiel Rivero and Rogelio Antipolo Jr. reaffirmed their recantations last week before the panel of prosecutors.

There was no cooperation with authorities from Marvin Miranda, the alleged leader of the group.

In response to the developments, Teves’ lawyer Andres Manuel said their team was better equipped to question the charges against their client.

The main case or the crux of this case, as we said previously, is founded on the statements of the 10 recanters. Manuel told reporters in Filipino, “If there is no (witness left among the 10), that calls into question whether to pursue charges against the congressman.”

They have yet to decide whether they will file a motion for reconsideration in response to Teves’ denial of a hearing with the Ombudsman instead of the Department of Justice or whether they will submit a counteraffidavit to the panel of prosecutors in response to the denial of their bid.

The documents we have will be used to make our decisions. We will review this rigorously and we will be prepared to file whatever we decide to file by July 17,” he explained.

A new batch of evidence including clearer photos and video footage of the crime scene has been filed by the National Bureau of Investigation.

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