Degamo widow renews justice call on anniversary

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Janice Degamo marked the third death anniversary of her husband, the late Gov. Roel Degamo, by renewing her call for justice for his killing and the nine others who died with him.

In a message delivered after a Holy Mass held at his grave at their residence in Siaton town, the lawmaker thanked the national government for its efforts to bring back the alleged mastermind in the attack.

“We thanked the national government for their efforts in bringing the mastermind in killing my husband back to the country. More than putting them in jail, we are for three years waiting for justice to be served,” she said.

Degamo expressed hope the case would reach a verdict similar to the ruling in the Maguindanao massacre.

“We long to hear the same verdict. Sana maipanalo rin natin ito,” she added.

Degamo said her family will continue to call for justice despite differing reactions from the public, stressing they are duty-bound to seek justice for the victims.

“Sometimes we have to utter words the community needs to hear,” she said.

She said their fight is not only for her husband but also for the nine other victims killed in 2023.

“Looking forward to a day when we all join together as a community,” she said, adding that the province is worth fighting for.

Degamo urged residents of Negros Oriental to remain vigilant and be careful in their decisions so that similar incidents will not happen again.

Gov. Degamo and nine others were killed in a gun attack at his residence in Pamplona, Negros Oriental, on March 4, 2023.

Former congressman Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. was tagged as the alleged mastermind in the killing, although his camp has denied the accusations.

Teves was returned to the Philippines from Timor-Leste on May 29, 2025, after authorities there moved to deport him, according to Philippine government and media reports.

In a Facebook post, the lawmaker remembered her husband as a man of unwavering principles and a public servant dedicated to helping others.

“I will forever remember him as a true man of the people. Not because of the titles he held, but because of the lives he touched,” she said.

She vowed to continue the fight for a better province in his memory.

“Because I know that is what he would have done. Because his dream of a province free from fear, violence, and corruption must live on,” she said.

Degamo also thanked those who joined the family in commemorating her husband’s death anniversary.