Operatives from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) escort six suspects in the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo for inquest proceedings at the Department of Justice headquarters in Manila on March 23, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News
MANILA (UPDATE) — Three more suspects in the March 4 killing of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and 9 others have recanted their statements on their involvement in the crime, their legal counsel disclosed Tuesday.
According to lawyer Danny Villanueva, Rogelio Antipolo, Rommel Pattaguan and Dahniel Lora joined their co-accused Osmundo Rivero in withdrawing their testimonies.
Rivero earlier filed a counter-affidavit recanting his previous testimonies implicating suspended lawmaker Arnolfo Teves Jr. as the mastermind.
"Our 4 clients had already executed an affidavit of recantation," Villanueva told ANC's "Rundown".
"We have submitted already not only the affidavit of recantation of Mr. Rivero but as well as those by 3 other clients."
In a 5-page counter-affidavit, Rivero claimed he was coerced into saying that Teves was behind the killing.
Rivero also alleged he was tortured into linking Teves to the crime while under police custody, adding that officers allegedly threatened to hurt his family if he did not cooperate.
Philippine National Police chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. on Monday said he did not receive any information on the alleged torture.
He also declined to comment on the Degamo killing probe.
NO SOLID CASE
Villanueva has not yet released copies of the affidavits of the 3 other suspects.
In a DOJ panel of prosecutors’ resolution dated April 4, 2023, suspect Antipolo identified Marvin Miranda as one of the people who “planned the assassination” of Degamo.
He also identified Miranda as Teves' former bagman.
Antipolo also divulged details about prior attempts to assassinate Degamo and the recruitment of alleged members of the assault team.
"As to the source of this information, Mr. Antipolo denies having any knowledge about it. We can only surmise this information comes from the police officers of Negros Oriental," Villanueva said.
With the recantations, Villanueva believes there is no solid case against Teves and his clients.
"From the very start, I don't think there is a solid case, not only against Congressman Teves, but against my clients as well," he said.
Villanueva claimed his clients' previous statements were allegedly made in violation of their constitutional rights and are inadmissible as evidence.
"I think only the statements of these alleged perpetrators is the basis of the Department of Justice in linking Congressman Teves to the alleged incident in Pamplona," he added.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla earlier said he expected recantations after some of the suspects allegedly lawyered up and stopped cooperating.
On May 17, some 2 months after the killings, authorities filed murder complaints against Teves.
Eleven suspects, including Miranda, are also facing murder charges in court.
Teves maintained that he and his clan had nothing to do with the crime. He has yet to return to the Philippines.
— With report from Mike Navallo and Davinci Maru, ABS-CBN News