The Pamplona massacre was a mass shooting and assassination incident that took place at Pamplona, Negros Oriental in the Philippines. On March 4, 2023, at approximately 9:36 A.M. (PhST), a group of former members of the Philippine military stormed the residence of Roel Degamo, the governor of Negros Oriental, in Pamplona and killed Degamo, the target, as well as nine others. The attack happened during the distribution of aid to the local beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. Degamo was rushed to a nearby provincial hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11:41 A.M. (PhST).
An investigation was launched by Philippine authorities after the attack. Politics was considered to be the primary motive behind the attack, as Degamo was involved in a contested May 2022 gubernatorial election which saw him assuming the office for a fourth term after winning an electoral protest against Pryde Henry Teves, who was proclaimed winner of the elections. Eleven suspects were arrested by the police in multiple operations across the province. Two of the suspects named a certain 'Cong Teves' as the mastermind in an ambush interview with the media. Negros Oriental 3rd District representative Arnolfo Teves Jr., who was abroad during the attack, was suspended and later expelled by the House of Representatives following his failure to return to the country to face investigation. The Philippine Senate also launched an inquiry regarding the incident, and invited the representative via teleconferencing but ultimately withdrew due to legal uncertainties. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla considers the representative to be the 'highest mastermind' of the attack.
Background
Roel Degamo was the governor of Negros Oriental at the time of his assassination. He became governor in January 2011, after Governor Agustin Perdices died. Perdices himself assumed the post following the death of Governor Emilio Macias II. Degamo was elected governor in 2013 and was reelected in the 2016 and 2019 elections.
Degamo ran for a fourth term in 2022 election, but lost to Pryde Henry Teves who was proclaimed governor. Degamo filed an electoral protest before the Commission on Elections. A recount was made, with votes for a nuisance candidate named Ruel Degamo considered as a vote for Roel Degamo. The final tally of the recount concluded Degamo as the winner and Teves' proclamation was nullified. Degamo took his oath as governor on October 5, 2022, while his rival Teves voluntarily stepped down from his position on October 11, 2022.
Shooting
On March 4, 2023, at approximately 9:36 a.m., Degamo was shot several times by unidentified men at his residence in Pamplona, Negros Oriental. He was distributing aid to local beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) conditional cash transfer program when the attack happened. He was rushed to Negros Polymedic Hospital in Sibulan, but was pronounced dead at 11:41 a.m.
Eight other people were also killed in the shooting; another died more than two months later. The dead included a barangay kagawad (councilor) and another civilian who were mistaken as Degamo's bodyguards.
On March 16, 2023, Degamo was interred in their family mausoleum at his hometown of Siaton.
Four suspects were arrested in Bayawan while another died in an encounter with state forces.
Suspects
Eleven suspects, all former military men, are under police custody by April 3; nine of them are former personnel while others were a reservist and a trainee. Six of them were arrested while the rest surrendered. One of those arrested was one of the alleged masterminds, former Army reservist Marvin Miranda. Another suspect killed in pursuit operations was later identified as Arnil Labradilla of Bindoy, a former New People's Army rebel.
Murder and frustrated murder charges were filed by Department of Justice prosecutors against four of those arrested (as listed below) as well as twelve John Does before the Tanjay Regional Trial Court (RTC); also, charges of illegal possession of firearms, ammunition, and explosives against three of them before the Bayawan RTC. Those indicted over the assassination include:
Joven Javier – former Army ranger (La Castellana, Negros Occidental resident) Joric Labrador – former Army ranger (Cagayan De Oro resident) Osmundo Rivero – former Army personnel (Zamboanga City) Benjie Rodriguez (Mindanao native)