THE Supreme Court on Tuesday granted Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla’s request to transfer the cases related to the highly controversial killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, which also resulted in the deaths of his supporters last March 4.

In a Viber message, the SC Public Information Office confirmed that the SC en banc has approved the transfer of the cases to the Manila Regional Trial Court.

The assassination of Degamo and eight others shocked the nation. The incident occurred while Degamo was meeting with beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) at his residence in Pamplona town.

Witnesses reported that heavily armed suspects dressed in camouflage uniforms carried out the attack, resulting in the death of eight individuals.

Degamo had won a fiercely contested gubernatorial race in his province, and his assassination occurred just 19 days after the Supreme Court declared him the winner.

The request to transfer the cases from Negros Oriental to Manila was made by Remulla in his letter dated March 9, 2023 to Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, which was coursed through Court Administrator Raul B. Villanueva.

According to Remulla, they “anticipate the filing of other cases related thereto, considering the number of victims who are yet to file their complaints.”

In his letter, Remulla cited the following reasons as basis for the transfer of the cases:

1) First, the case gained significant media attention in Negros Oriental, which has created a hostile environment for the respondents;

2) Second, given that three of the victims are government officials and politicians, the political complexion surrounding the cases may also lead to intimidation and harassment of the respondents, the private complainants, and their witnesses, which could undermine the integrity of the trial; and

3) Third, the logistical difficulties of conducting the trial in the province are also a concern.

The respondents are currently detained at the NBI Custodial Center in Manila since the facilities in the province may not be adequate to handle a high-profile case, and there could be security issues with the transportation and handing of the respondents.”

In his memorandum for Gesmundo, dated March 13, 2023, Villanueva said that the OCA “is completely in
agreement and convince that, taking into account the reasons cited by Remulla, the venue of the cases he listed above should be transferred to the RTC of Manila.