Abalos orders replacement of entire Negros Oriental police force

INTERIOR and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos has ordered the replacement of the entire police force in Negros Oriental province following the March 4 killing of Governor Roel Degamo and eight others. 

“As per my instruction, all the police personnel in Bayawan City and other local government units in Negros Oriental will be changed,” Abalos said in a Facebook post Tuesday. 

He directed Philippine National Police deputy chief for administration Lt. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia to implement his order. 

“As per his latest update, Gen. Sermonia has completed the turnover of the Bayawan City police chief and the changing of all police personnel,” he said. 

“Fresh legs” needed 

Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare, spokesperson of the Special Investigation Task Group for the Central Visayas Police Regional Office, told reporters that the order has been carried out in Bayawan City. 

This is an operational and tactical decision of the command to make sure that the remaining suspects will be arrested,”

Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare,

A whole new team of policemen was sent to replace the previous personnel, who were transferred to the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office headquarters, he said. 

He also said the police needed “fresh legs” on the ground as authorities continue to track the remaining suspects. 

Matching evidence 

Pelare revealed that three of the suspects arrested for the attack on Degamo had already disclosed substantial information about the crime. But he refused to provide specific details as the manhunt for the other suspects is still ongoing. 

Ballistic examination also found matches between the recovered firearms, cartridges and shells at the scene. Fingerprints recovered from the getaway vehicles also matched those of the four arrested suspects. 

A Mitsubishi Pajero, a green Isuzu pick-up truck, and a black Mitsubishi Montero were found abandoned in Barangay Cansumalig, Bayawan City hours after the ambush on the governor. 

Pelare said the police are still trying to identify the owners of the vehicles and to determine if these had been stolen. 

What went before 

Degamo was shot dead after heavily armed men barged into his home in Pamplona town while he was meeting with his constituents who were asking for help. Eight others were killed as well. 

The incident drew quick condemnation from officials, especially since it came after a series of attacks on other elected officials. 

Government prosecutors have filed murder raps against four suspects.