Pamplona massacre

Pamplona massacre
The residence of Roel Degamo after the attack
LocationPamplona, Negros Oriental, Philippines
Coordinates9°24′16.9″N 123°01′14.8″E / 9.404694°N 123.020778°E / 9.404694; 123.020778
DateMarch 4, 2023; 20 months ago (2023-03-04)
c. 9:36 am (PhST)
TargetRoel Degamo
Attack type
Shooting, assassination
Deaths10 (including the target)
Injured12
MotiveUnder investigation, possibly politics

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.[1] The attack happened during the distribution of aid to the local beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.[2] Degamo was rushed to a nearby provincial hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11:41 A.M. (PhST).[3]

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.[4] Negros Oriental 3rd District representative Arnolfo Teves Jr., who was abroad during the attack, was suspended by the House of Representatives following his failure to return to the country to face investigation. He was later expelled by the House, the first expulsion of a representative in the Fifth Republic.[5] 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.[6]

On February 29, 2024, the Interpol issued a red notice against Teves upon the request of the Philippines. Weeks later, on March 21, Teves was arrested in Timor-Leste by local authorities while playing golf in Dili.[7]

  1. ^ "BREAKING: Negros Oriental Governor Dead At 56 After An Armed Attack | News and Updates". The Negros Times | web.archive.org. May 29, 2023. Archived from the original on May 29, 2023. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference 10thD was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo killed in attack". Rappler. March 4, 2023. Archived from the original on March 4, 2023. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  4. ^ "Suspects say 'Cong Teves' ordered hit on Degamo". GMA News Online. March 9, 2023. Archived from the original on June 6, 2023. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference historicfirst was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cayabyab, Marc Jayson (April 4, 2023). "Teves considered 'highest mastermind' in Degamo slay". Philstar. Archived from the original on June 5, 2023. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference tevesarrest was invoked but never defined (see the help page).