The panel of prosecutors from the Department of Justice (DOJ) has received additional evidence from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) during the preliminary hearing to bolster its murder complaints against the respondents involved in the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.
DOJ spokesperson and Assistant Secretary Jose Dominic Clavano explained that the additional evidence includes pictures and videos which will further identify the accused at the scene of the crime, supporting the testimonies they gave before they recanted.
“These will automatically support their original statements that they were at the scene of the crime, there in Pamplona,” Clavano said.
“And these recantations are just statements being taken back. But to put them up against actual object evidence such as pictures and videos will be hard for them to defend. So these are the additional pieces of evidence submitted,” he added.
According to him, the NBI also submitted clearer copies of evidence that were already given earlier.
The probe was for the multiple murder complaints filed against suspended Negros Oriental
Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. and
others for the alleged assassination of Degamo, an incident Teves has denied having a hand in. Last week, accused Romel Pattaguan, Dahniel Lora, Osmundo Rivero, Joven Javier, and Rogelio Antipolo affirmed the recantations of their testimonies on the ploy virtually.
During Monday’s preliminary investigation hearing, accused Winrich Isturis, Joric Labrador, Benjie Rodriguez, Eulogio and John Louie Gonyon virtually affirmed their recantations. Rey E. Requejo