GOVERNOR Aris Aumentado resisted the plan of the police hierarchy for the deployment of Bohol police personnel to Negros Oriental.
“We will not allow nga atong mga pulis i-reassign sa Negros Oriental,” he told media interview at the new Capitol where he met with municipal mayors in the afternoon of March 8, 2023.
The move for Bohol police deployment came after the police force in Negros Oriental, particularly Bayawan City per report, were reportedly relieved following the slay of Governor Roel R. Degamo.
Aumentado said that the provincial governors of Central Visayas were shocked to know of the police deployment plan that involved almost 400 policemen from Bohol without them consulted.
He said that he asked police regional director PGen. Bearis for consideration. The latter informed police national chief PGen. Rodolfo Azurin, Jr, who was just here the other day, of his request not to deploy Bohol police forces.
The governor said that Bohol needs police personnel considering that the ASEAN officials will be coming here, (Bohol as host) for a very important gathering to tackle the intellectual property rights-related issues.
He said why “punish” Bohol of the lapses, if any, of Negros Oriental police force. Why they won’t mobilize police personnel of nearby provinces, like Negros Occidental, the governor suggested.
But if there’s a re-assignment of Bohol police to Negros Oriental, it may be an augmentation, but not that much, Aumentado said.
He said that his stand against the deployment of hundreds of Bohol police force to Negros Oriental is a support of the police personnel’s sentiment.
A day before, the governor was quoted as saying that he has alerted the local officials not to let their guards down after Degamo’s slay.
The governor met with police led by provincial director Col. Lorenzo Batuan to tackle peace and order situation in the province.
Reports reaching this paper said that Degamo was shot dead inside his house in barangay Isidro, Pamplona town while attending to the distribution of goodies to the beneficiaries in the Saturday morning (March 4, 2023). He was pronounced dead in the afternoon as confirmed by Siaton town Mayor Fritz Diaz, the report said.
Degamo and company were distributing assistance to beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) when the assailants suddenly emerged and shot him at 9:36 a.m. Degamo and eight of the people attending the aid distribution were dead and some of the wounded were rushed to the hospital for treatment following the massacre.
The hot pursuit ensued and resulted to the arrest of the three of the 10 suspects: (1). Joric Labrador y Garido, 50 years old, male, married, EX-ARMY DOB: June 2, 1972 POB: Marawi, Lanuso and a resident of Cagayan De Oro; (2.) Joven Aber y Calibjo, 42 years old, male, married EX-ARMY RANGER DOB: April 29, 1979 POB: La Castellana Negros Occidental and resident of Brgy. Robles, La Castellana, Negros Occidental; and (3). Benjie Rodriguez y Buladola, 45 years old, male, married DOB: February 9, 1977 POB: Bonifacio, Misamis Occidental and a resident of Mindanao, according to the fb post of Wilson Villena, Jr.
They were cornered in Sitio Punong, Baranrgay Cansumalig, Bayawan City at past 4 in the afternoon on the same day. (rvo)
