DOJ: 20 cases filed over Negros killings

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed cases over 20 political killings in Negros Oriental from 2019 to 2023, an official said Wednesday.

During the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs hearing, Justice Undersecretary Jessie Andres said 20 cases were filed in court, two cases were dismissed, and one case was archived.

“All of them have already been filed in court. Meaning that the DOJ has found probable cause against the accused and they will all be held for trial for murder, frustrated murder, and attempted murder, as the case may be,” Andres said.

He said the cases will be raffled off and warrants of arrest will be issued against the respective accused in the cases.

According to Andres, one of the dismissed cases was of radio announcer Dindo Generoso.

“The case was dismissed because the accused, the respondent there, also died. And the criminal liability is extinguished with the death of the respondent,” he said.

Meanwhile, the case of board member Miguel Lopez Dungog was archived because the accused could not be located and is presently at large.

Andres said the case of Edmund Sestosa was dismissed after his wife withdrew the complaint.

“Having said that… it is still possible to file the case and revive this case if there are witnesses willing to cooperate even with the withdrawal of the complaint by the wife,” he said.

He said the DOJ classified the killings as “politically colored” because the victims were members of the media, councilors, kagawads, board members, and barangay captains.

Andres said most of the killings were from 2019 to 2023 while one case was from 2007.

Meanwhile, he said the assassinations were done in the cities of Bais, Bayawan, Canlaon, Dumaguete, Guihulngan, and the Negros proper.

Philippine officials noticed a pattern of impunity in the province following a visit to the wake of slain Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, who was killed along with eight others on March 4.

Andres said cases of frustrated murder and various degrees of physical injury cases were also filed against the 11 accused over the assassination of Degamo and others.—AOL, GMA Integrated News