Remulla names 'director' of Degamo slay, says Teves could be 'main mastermind'
MANILA, Philippines (Updated 2:01 p.m.) — Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has confirmed that a certain "Marvin Miranda y Halaman", or Marvin Miranda, is one of the alleged masterminds in the killing of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo.
Speaking to reporters, Remulla likened Miranda's alleged role to being a "casting director [or] director" of the daylight shooting of Degamo at his house. The justice secretary also tagged Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. (Negros Oriental, 3rd District) — who is abroad and has refused to come home to face allegations — as the "executive producer."
The DOJ chief said Miranda, a military reservist, was responsible for contracting people and gathering firearms. "We know who he is from the other suspects," he added.
"He was the one talking to people, gathering firearms… planning the movements," Remulla said in Filipino.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. confirmed Miranda's arrest in a streamed press conference by the Task Force Degamo on Monday afternoon.
Abalos said Miranda is the "missing vital link and one of the main conspirators behind the assassination."
"Marvin Miranda, upon the instruction of a certain 'boss idol,' 'big boss,' 'kalbo' was the one who recruited them and the person who provided logistical and material support during the planning and execution of the assassination plan of Gov. Degamo," the DILG chief continued.
He added that Miranda was a long-time security aide of Rep. Teves. Remulla added the provincial lawmaker is the "boss idol," "big boss," or "kalbo" that Miranda was referring to.
The DOJ chief also said it is "reasonable" to say that Teves paid for the firearms used in the assassination.
The National Bureau of Investigation said Miranda was arrested on March 31 in Mayabay, Barbasa, Antique by a composite team composed of members of the bureau, the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
The NBI said they have information that Miranda slipped away from Negros Oriental and had been in Antique province from March 23 until he was arrested on Friday.
This means that, so far, there are 12 suspects in the brutal Degamo killing accounted for. Of these, 11 are under the custody of the NBI while one died in a shootout.
Miranda's lawyer barred?
During the earlier chance interview with reporters, Remulla did not disclose other details, as he said he has yet to look into Miranda's testimonies. He, however, said that Miranda is being represented by the Public Attorney's Office and not by a private lawyer.
This was after former Justice Undersecretary Reynante Orceo claimed that he had been barred from seeing and talking to Miranda. He said he was told he could not see his supposed client because case investigation was "under process."
Last Friday, Remulla announced that the National Bureau of Investigation arrested one of the main players in the killing. He was nabbed within the country, but outside Negros Oriental.
The DOJ chief said that with this latest arrest, the case is now "99% solved."
Orceo, in a report by The STAR newspaper, however pointed out that Miranda was arrested without a warrant since his client is yet to face any charges. He said the arrest could be ground for illegal detention.
Remulla insisted that the arrest may fall under "hot pursuit" operation since authorities have been chasing Miranda starting March 4, the day of the killing. "That's why we went after him immediately, because he evaded us quickly," he said in Filipino.
One of the grounds cited under the Revised Rules for Criminal Procedure for arresting without a warrant is when an officer or private person has probable cause, based on personal knowledge of facts or circumstances, that the person to be arrested has just committed an offense.
Law enforcement has in the past stretched the definition of hot pursuit to the arrest of suspects long after the crime had been committed.
Teves link?
Remulla said that he "[thinks] there is a connection with Teves," the Negros Oriental lawmaker whom the House has since been suspended for refusing to come back to Manila.
Teves has already repeatedly denied his hand in the killing of the provincial governor, whose family is a political rival of theirs.
"Cong. Teves appears to be the main mastermind," Remulla added.
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