3 Ex-Soldiers Convicted in Degamo Slay Case for Gun, Bomb Possession

MANILA, Philippines — Three former Army soldiers have been convicted beyond reasonable doubt of illegal possession of firearms and explosives in connection with the assassination of former Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo in March 2023. In a decision handed down on Aug. 18 and made public only recently, the Manila Regional Trial Court’s Branch 40 convicted Joric Labrador for unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, and coaccused Joven Javier and Benjie Rodriguez for one count each of unlawful possession of explosives. Labrador was sentenced to up to 10 years in prison, while Javier and Rodriguez were handed down a prison term of reclusion perpetua, or up to 40 years. The three convicts, along with expelled Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr., are facing separate charges for multiple murder, frustrated murder and attempted murder charges before the Manila court for the killing of Degamo. READ: Court grants Teves bail, but he stays in Taguig jail The court, meanwhile, ordered the custodians of the .45 cal. pistol, two magazines, 14 rounds of live ammunition and two hand grenades seized from the three men to turn these over to the Philippine National Police. Labrador, Javier and Rodriguez were already discharged from the Army for going on unauthorized leave before they were charged in court three years ago over the killing of Degamo. Labrador was a member of the Mechanized Infantry Battalion of the 4th Infantry Division while Javier was with the Light Reaction Battalion. Rodriguez, on the other hand, was assigned to the 35th Infantry Battalion of the 11th Infantry Division. According to the Department of Justice, which transferred the case to the City of Manila, the court also upheld the validity of the accused’s warrantless arrests, noting that the seized pieces of evidence were properly identified and handled, as testified to by the police and other witnesses. “Impunity should never triumph over justice. We shall hold accountable anyone who transgresses the rule of law,” Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said in a statement announcing the Manila court’s ruling. Degamo and nine others, including his driver and bodyguard, were killed by armed men on March 4, 2023, during the distribution of aid at his house in Pamplona, Negros Oriental. Amid accusations, Teves, his longtime political rival, denied he masterminded the 56-year-old governor’s assassination. At the time Degamo was killed, Teves was on medical leave from the House of Representatives, supposedly seeking treatment in the United States. In August 2023, the majority of House lawmakers voted to expel the lawmaker for disorderly behavior and violations of the chamber’s code of conduct. They cited his refusal to come home to face the charges against him and his attempts to seek political asylum in Timor-Leste. Teves was eventually returned to the Philippines in May 2025 after Timorese authorities denied his asylum bid and ordered his deportation. /cb