Degamo slay suspect files petition for habeas corpus

A suspect in the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo on Monday filed a petition before a Manila court seeking to summon Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) chief Medardo De Lemos.

In his 3-page petition for habeas corpus, Osmundo Rivero asked the Manila RTC Office of the Clerk of Court to direct Remulla and De Melos to appear before the Court and bring with them Rivero’s family.

“Inaasahan namin pinakamatagal 48 hours, the Court will issue a writ of habeas corpus,” Atty. Danny Villanueva, Rivero’s legal counsel, said in an ambush interview.

(We are hoping that within 48 hours, the Court will issue a writ of habeas corpus.)

Rivero in his petition claimed that soldiers and cops took his 40-year-old wife, his 15-year-old stepson, and his two-year-old son from their home in Zamboanga del Sur on March 5.

He said reports later reached him that his family was brought to Manila and provided accommodations by the Department of Justice and the National Bureau of Investigation.

He said his family was “unlawfully detained and deprived of their liberty by the order and behest of the respondents.”

When asked about Rivero’s earlier declaration that he would cooperate, Villanueva said this was made in fear after finding out that his family had been allegedly taken.

“So yun ang pinaka pangunahin na nag udyok sa kanya. Yung takot na baka may mangyari kung mamatay ang kanyang pamilya,” he said.

(That was what compelled him. The fear that something may happen to his family.)

In early March, Remulla said he instructed the Witness Protection Program (WPP) to exert "maximum effort" to help the families of the accused in the Degamo killing.

Villanueva said neither Rivero nor his family were under the (WPP).

“At walang impormasyon na nakarating kay Mr. Rivero na yung kanyang pamilya ay nailalim sa Witness Protection Program o kaya ay humingi ng tulong sa Secretary of the Department of Justice para ilagay sa ilalim ng WPP,” he said.

However, in a message to reporters, Remulla said, “[Rivero's] Family doesn’t want to talk to him, according to WPP.”

GMA News Online sought comment from the DOJ but the department had yet to respond as of posting time.

Rivero earlier recanted his testimony and denied knowledge of the assassination and its alleged masterminds, suspended Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr. and Teves' former bodyguard Marvin Miranda.

On March 4, Degamo and eight others were killed while several others were injured after an attack on the late governor’s home in Negros Oriental. The death toll later climbed to 10. — DVM, GMA Integrated News