Authorities ‘close’ to finding Degamo slay mastermind — Abalos

INTERIOR and Local Government Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. said on Friday that they were now close to finding the mastermind behind the assassination of Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo.

Speaking to reporters during the launch of the Philippine Acceleration Action Plan against Tuberculosis (PAAP-TB) in Pasay City, Abalos said about 10 suspects in the killing of Degamo and eight others last March 4, 2023, are now under their custody.

He said in mixed Filipino and English that they have gathered “a lot of information” that are now “under operation”.

He also said that the information provided by the surrendered suspects were enough to determine the “mastermind” behind the killings.

Abalos also said that the raid at the house of former Negros Oriental governor Pryde Henry Teves, brother of Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr., was backed by a search warrant.

Abalos chided the lawmaker for saying things that “only he can understand”. The congressman, a prime suspect, was in the US at the time of the killing and has since refused to come home even after the travel order issued by the House of Representatives had expired.

Abalos echoed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. 's call for Teves to come home, noting that he will be given security.