In war vs crime!

“LET me reiterate the warning of President Marcos to criminals: you can run but you can’t hide.”

Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez aired this warnong on Monday as he vowed that there would be no sacred cows in the government’s fight against criminality.

“Malaking tao man o may impluwensiya, hahabulin namin kayo at papanagutin sa mga kasalanan ninyo,” Speaker Romualdez said.

The Speaker revealed that law enforcement agencies looking into the killing of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and several others two
days ago are hot on the trail of the person who masterminded the assassination.

“May mga importanteng leads na ang mga imbestigador kung sino ang mastermind ng krimen na ito. They are working round the clock at the
moment for case buildup,” he said.

He assured the people of Negros Oriental that the brains behind crime would soon be arrested and would rot in jail.

“Hindi magtatagal, maipapa-aresto na natin ang utak ng krimen. Pagbabayarin natin ang lahat ng responsable sa krimeng ito.

Sisiguruhin ng ating mga awtoridad na mabubulok sila sa kulungan,” he said.

The House leader reiterated that there is now peace in Negros Oriental.

“We have restored peace and order in Negros Oriental. The local government is fully functional and in control of the situation with the swearing-in of the new governor and vice-governor,” he said.

He said the Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) , the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and
other concerned agencies “are tasked to provide all assistance necessary for the new officials to carry out their functions.”

Negros Oriental Rep. Arnie Teves condemned the killing of Degamo.

“Isang mapagpalang araw mga mahal ko na Palangga at mga kababayan. Katunggali man po sa politika, mariin ko na kinokondena ang karahasan na sinapit ni Gov. Roel Degamo at sa ibang nadamay sa insidente. Ako po ay nakikiramay sa kanyang mga naulila. Sadyang masakit po ang mamatayan ng mahal sa buhay,” Teves said.

“Matapos ang aking saglit na pamamahinga mula sa medical procedure ay minabuti ko po na mag-video message para sa aking saloobin ukol sa pangyayari. Kasabay po nito ay nais ko ipanawagan sa ating mahal na Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., na nawa’y maibalik din ang akin na proteksyon gaya ng lisensiya sa mga baril. Mga Palangga, kasabay nito ay aking panalangin na muling manumbalik ang katahimikan sa ating probinsya. Maraming salamat po,” Teves said.

Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, chairman of the House committee on dangerous drugs, condemned the series of violence
recently.

“I condemn in the strongest possible terms the recent surge of violence in our country, which has resulted in the tragic deaths and
injuries of several government officials. The recent acts of violence — that resulted to the loss of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and
Aparri Cagayan Vice-Mayor Rommel Alameda, and the wounding of Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr. and Datu Montawal Maguindanao del Sur Mayor Ohto Montawal – are deeply saddening,” Barbers said.

“While it is painful to bear this recent surge of violence, we should not forget all other public officials who became victims of violence while holding office in the past. What is more distressing is that most of these cases remain un-solved, their perpetrators have not been brought to justice and certainly roaming around scot-free,” he said.

On Sunday, Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos ensured that Degamo’s death has not left a leadership vacuum in the
province by swearing in Vice Gov. Carlo Jorge Joan Reyes as governor and 1st Board Member Manuel Sagarbarria as vice governor.

Also on Sunday, Speaker Romualdez flew to Negros Oriental to condole with the late governor’s family, friends and constituents.