Repent, Remulla tells 'masterminds' in Degamo killing

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Tuesday advised the suspected masterminds in the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo to "repent" this Holy Week.

“Repentance. Ano, eh, time for us to look at our sins and repent,” Remulla said in an ambush interview.

Last week, Remulla announced that Marvin Miranda, one of the alleged masterminds in the assassination, was caught by the National Bureau of Investigation as he was fleeing Negros Oriental.

On Monday, he said suspended lawmaker Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. appears to be the main mastermind in the ploy, likening him to an “executive producer” who financed the operations.

Remulla said Miranda was not cooperating with authorities. However, he maintained that the case is practically already "closed".

“It’s okay. We’re getting to know more of his role, more information is coming in about him. And the people he worked with, so everything continues,” he said.

"Actually, as I said earlier, the case is practically closed, closed na yan, save for a few details. Pero we will say it’s solved already,” he added.

Degamo and eight others were killed while several others were injured after an attack at the governor's home in Negros Oriental on March 4 while he was distributing aid to his constituents.

Teves is being linked to the crime after suspects in the killing pointed to a certain “Cong. Teves” as the one who ordered the hit.

For his part, Teves has denied that he and his brother, former Negros Oriental Governor Pryde Henry Teves, are involved in the killing.

His camp said he has yet to return to the Philippines due to concerns about his safety and security.

According to Remulla, Pryde Henry is not in the same boat as his brother. Pryde Henry has waived his rights over his secrecy of bank deposits and communication logs.

“Mutual friends have come across to brief me about a few things and that we expect him to file a counter affidavit to the charges. That’s what I was told,” he said.

“But the line is open as far as Henry Pryde is concerned, considering the fact that he doesn’t seem to be in the same boat as the older brother,” Remulla added. —VAL, GMA Integrated News