MANILA (UCAN): On the first anniversary of the merciless killing of Roel Demago, governor of Negros Oriental in central Visayas, the Philippines, along with nine others, the Catholic Church has decried the delay in bringing the perpetrators to justice.
The victims died in a brazen attack—dubbed the “Pamplona Massacre”—in Pamplona town at an aid distribution event on 4 March 2023.
Expelled Negros Oriental congressman Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr., the alleged mastermind, is reported to be still at large.
“Our dream of integral peace remains elusive,” Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of San Carlos, said on March 6, adding that the call to end violence in “Negros Island has fallen on deaf ears.”
“Peace cannot be achieved by political means and by using weapons”, he observed.
The government said that it has launched a manhunt for nine suspects behind the massacre. On February 28, Interpol issued a Red Notice against Teves who is reported to be hiding in Laos.
Peace cannot be achieved by political means and by using weapons
Bishop Gerardo Alminaza
However, a solution is not “yet in sight,” noted Bishop Julito Cortes of Dumaguete, Negros Oriental.
“Where are we now in our pursuit of justice and peace for our beloved province?” Bishop Cortes asked in a statement on March 4.
The mayor of Pamplona, Janice Degamo, the wife of the slain governor, said that she “will do whatever it takes to honour Degamo’s legacy by bringing lasting peace.”
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“It pains me that it took his murder to unite our province,” she remarked at a memorial service on March 4.
Bishop Alminaza has criticised the increase of gun culture in the Philippines and has called for the implementation of stricter laws that do not favour politicians and wealthy individuals.
Bishop Alminaza stated that according to a 2019 report, there were 296,906 licensed gun owners with a total of 1,940,237 licensed firearms, and an estimated 600,000 unlicensed firearms in the country.
Politicians and wealthy individuals’ adoption of the “bodyguard system” has led to an increase in private armies. Bishop Alminaza reports that there are currently over 118 private armed groups in the country.
“The amount of armed personnel for every politician is scandalous, while there are large cases of unsolved crimes in several areas,” the bishop said.
He also sought an end to political dynasties in the country.
The current president, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., is the son and namesake of the late, deposed dictator, while the vice president, Sara Duterte, is the daughter of former president, Rodrigo Duterte.
