The blood stains obtained in the compound where former Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo was assassinated and the getaway vehicle used have matched with the four suspects, the Degamo family's legal counsel disclosed on Tuesday.
In an interview with the reporters, Atty. Levito Baligod said that the suspects who tested positive in the DNA sampling conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) investigators are Rogelio Antipolo Jr., John Louie Gonyon Jr., Osmundo Rivero, and Winrich Isturis.
"'Yung [NBI] investigators natin took specimens from the vehicles used by the shooters and then also the blood stains left in the compound of governor De Gamo. And when subjected to DNA analysis, nag-match po," he said.
Baligod said the results of the DNA sampling have already been submitted to the Department of Justice (DOJ) panel of prosecutors.
WATCH: Specimen na nakuha sa sasakyan na ginamit ng mga namaril at bakas ng dugo sa compound ni Gov. Roel Degamo, nag-match sa 3 suspek, ayon kay Atty. Levito Baligod, abogado ng pamilya Degamo | RH 29 @boy_gonzales pic.twitter.com/wbGvCrHKLE
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) June 13, 2023
Suspect Rivero previously recanted his earlier testimony that implicated himself and suspended Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo 'Arnie' Teves in the assassination.
But according to Degamo's legal counsel, the recantation of suspects may not affect the slay case.
"As we are saying before, kahit mag-recant ang mga shooters na ito, we still can successfully prosecute the cases," he said.
Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin 'Boying' Remulla said that the DNA results are important to the ongoing case of Degamo.
"'Yung DNA na iyan, mapapakita na may ebidensya bukod sa salita. Kahit sabihin nilang [suspects] hindi sila ang naroon sa patayan, 'yung dugo nila nakuha sa patayan. Ano ang ibigsabihin no'n? Edi naroon sila sa lugar," he stressed.
"Kaya 'yung salitang binabawi nila at salita na sinasabi nila. Ano ang paniniwalaan mo? 'Yung sinabi nila o binawi nila?" Remulla added.
