President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the deployment of a special task force (STF) to Negros Oriental after the killing of its governor Roel Degamo, and 8 other civilians.
Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said that 'Special Task Force Degamo' will be formed with over 10,000 soldiers and police from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and PNP.
"The creation ng STF Degamo is to really harmonize and to make sure iisa lang direction ng law enforcement agencies so that ang intention natin sabi ng ating Presidente ay gusto niya ay whole of government approach dito po sa kaso na ito to make sure we can immediately the soonest possible time ay maresolba itong kaso na ito," Fajardo said.
This will be led by Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos, with Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla as the co-chairperson, and Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. as co-vice chairperson.
The task commanders will be Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Andres Centino and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Menardo de Lemos.
Two brigades, with 3,000 soldiers each, and six battalions, with 1,000 troops each, will be deployed.
Fajardo clarified that the formed task force will remain even after the investigation to focus on other areas.
"Itong special investigation task force, ang intention nito ay to harmonize ang lahat ng efforts ng iba’t ibang ahensya,” he added.
Meanwhile, the investigation of the gun attack against Degamo and other civilians is believed to be near its end.
"With the pieces of evidence at hand po, naniniwala ang STF that we are nearing the solution of this case. We are just finalizing some of the evidence at hand kasama na po yung mga material revelation at pieces of evidence including po mga forensic evidence collected by the forensic group of PNP," the PNP spox said.
The arrested suspects were currently under the custody of the NBI while the remaining still at large were believed to be in the area of Negros Oriental.
