CONTINUING efforts by the Philippine National Police (PNP) to account for the rest of the gunmen who killed Negros Oriental Governor Roel R. Degamo and eight others in a brazen gun attack last March 4 have resulted in the seizure of more weapons and other pieces of evidence regarding the assassination plot, the Journal Group learned.

The pieces of evidence include photos of the late Gov. Degamo and sketches and pictures of his residence and building, a report from the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 headed by Brigadier General Anthony A. Aberin said.

According to the new Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (PPO) director, Col. Alex G. Recinto, recovered inside a house in Amparo’s Village in Barangay Villareal, Bayawan City, past 2 a.m. Sunday were two pieces of white bond paper with the photos of Degamo and his family and a sketch of the Degamo residence, a hand grenade, and a caliber .45 semi-automatic pistol with two magazines containing 12 live ammunition.

The target of the raid, identified as “Nigel Electona,” is still being hunted as of press time.

Members of the Negros Oriental Provincial Intelligence Unit (PIU), PRO7 Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG) and Regional Intelligence Division (RID), Philippine National Police Special Action Force (PNP-SAF), the Bayawan City Police Station and the 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company (PMFC) raided the area.

The raid was conducted on the strength of a search warrant for illegal possession of firearms and explosives issued by Judge Jose Nathaniel S. Andal of the Cebu City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 24. The raiding team was led by Capt. Bonifacio Tañola Jr.

Another raid in Purok Bangalow in Bgy. Suba in Bayawan City at the same time targeted one “Marvin Miranda,” who was not around during the search.

The raiding team headed by Lieutenant Col. John Karren Escober recovered one improvised rifle, one Ingram 9mm machine pistol with a magazine containing 15 bullets, a fragmentation grenade, and four different pictures of the late governor and a picture of a building which he frequents.

The recovered pieces of evidence will be placed under the safekeeping of the Negros Oriental Provincial Forensic Unit (PFU) for examination while appropriate criminal charges for violation of Republic Act (RA) 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act of 2013 and RA 9516 or illegal possession of explosives will be filed against the two suspects.

Recinto said that the raids were conducted by officers equipped with body-worn cameras and in the presence of required witnesses from the government and representatives of the houses which were searched.

On Saturday, PNP agents searching for more weapons believed hidden in properties owned by the Teves brothers in Negros unearthed several powerful improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in a compound owned by former Governor Pryde Henry Teves, the Journal Group learned.

Officers from the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) used a backhoe to dig underneath the compound where a powerful IED, rifle-propelled grenades, and several rounds of various live ammunition were recovered, said PNP-CIDG Director Brigadier Gen. Romeo M. Caramat Jr.

A tip from an informant prompted the officers to dig a hole in the spot where the IEDs and other pieces of evidence were recovered.

Officials involved in the search said the IEDs recovered inside the HDJ Bayawan Agri-Ventures Corp., HDJ-Tolong Compound in Bgy. Caranoche in Sta. Catalina municipality, owned by Pryde Teves, appears to be similar to those used by New People’s Army (NPA) and other lawless terrorist groups in Mindanao to bomb targets, including government convoys and other establishments.

Workers of the agri-ventures corporation, local barangay officials, and Pryde’s legal counsel, lawyer James Miraflor were present during the recovery operation conducted by members of the PNP-CIDG, the PNP-SAF, the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (PPO), and the Sta. Catalina Municipal Police Station (MPS).

Caramat said that the area subjected to excavation is near the back portion of a firing range owned by Teves. The search resulted in the recovery of RPG (rocket-propelled grenade) ammunition without markings and serial number, one caliber .45 pistol’s upper and lower receiver, three IEDs, black powder, assorted live ammunition, assorted spent cartridges and slugs, and various components for the manufacture of IEDs.

The composition of the recovered IEDs is already being thoroughly examined by members of the Philippine Bomb Data Center, even as officers involved in the search were instructed to be wary of the possibility there are more hidden IEDs in the area which pose serious threats to their lives and limbs.

The PNP is thoroughly searching for weapons and explosives in properties owned by Pryde and his brother, Negros Oriental (3rd District) Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr.