Several cops allegedly used as ‘spotters’ in Negros killings —Degamo lawyer

The lawyer of slain Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and other victims on Monday said some police personnel allegedly served a spotters for suspects in the killings in the province.

At a press conference, lawyer Levito Baligod said this is based on the claims of witnesses.

“Marami pa pong lumalabas na witnesses po na nagsasabi pa at may sarili silang mga ebidensya na ilang mga kapulisan doon ay tumayo pang spotter ng mga pumatay sa iba't-ibang biktima,” he said.

(More witnesses are surfacing who have their own evidence and are saying that some policemen served as spotter for the killers of different victims.)

He added that these police personnel are still in Negros Oriental.

Before the fatal attack on Degamo, Baligod said there are 64 other killings that happened in the province.

Philippine National Police deputy chief for administration Lieutenant General Rhodel Sermonia said he will check the report.

“We are going to work on it and we are going to undergo process,” he said.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos said that the involved personnel will be suspended from duty.

“We assure you kung sinuman ang mga involved na pulis dito, ang NAPOLCOM, I am the chairman of NAPOLCOM, we will follow the process of law at kailangan masuspinde ito, matanggal ito for the meantime, pending the investigation,” he said.

(As a chairman of the NAPOLCOM, we assure you that police personnel involved will be suspended and removed for the meantime, pending investigation.)

In an ambush interview, Baligod said they are looking for another suspect who gathered intelligence prior to the attack against Degamo.

“This suspect provided the plan on how to enter and exit Degamo's house," he said.—LDF, GMA Integrated News