Pamplona massacre death toll climbs to 10

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Another victim in the massacre that also claimed the life of the late Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo passed away.

Based on a post on Degamo’s Facebook page last May 7, the 10th fatality was Fredilino Cafe Jr., an employee of the Provincial Engineering Office and native of Umanod, Santa Catalina town.

Cafe, and nine others including Degamo, were massacred by a group of armed men who stormed the house of the late governor who was attending to the needs of his constituents in Pamplona town last March 4, 2023.

Cafe has been in and out of the hospital since March 4 until his death.

The Pamplona massacre also wounded 16 others, including two soldiers and a medical doctor.

Hours after the attack happened, some suspects were arrested and one of them tagged Negros Oriental third district Rep. Arnulfo “Arnie” Teves as the alleged mastermind in the incident.

But Teves, who earlier went abroad to seek medical treatment, denied the allegations against him. He has yet to return to the country, citing a grave security threat to him and his family.

The violent attack on the highest official of the province shocked not only the people of Negros Oriental but also the rest of Negros Island and even the entire country.

In fact, a senate inquiry is ongoing to probe the attack on Degamo and other killings in the province.