Suspect in Degamo slay recants statements on killing – lawyer

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 22) — A suspect in the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo has recanted his statements related to the slay, his lawyer confirmed on Monday.

Atty. Harold Montalbo, who represents Jhudiel Rivero a.k.a. Osmundo Rivero, told media his client recanted all his three previous statements.

"Meron po kasing tatlong affidavit na ginawa, isinalaysay si Mr. Osmundo Rivero pero ang lahat ng ito ay kanyang nirerecant na... Nirerecant na po ni Mr. Osmundo Rivero ang lahat ng kanyang mga sinalaysay na siya ay kasama sa mga— isa sa mga suspect sa pagpatay at isa rin sa mga nag plano at isa sa mga kasama ng tatlo pa naming kliyente dito sa aming law firm," he said.

[Translation: Three affidavits were made by Mr. Osmundo Rivero but he is recanting all of these... He is recanting all his statements that he is one of the suspects in the killing and one of those who planned, and one of the three other clients of our law firm.]

In his counter-affidavit, Rivero said he was kicked and hit while he was at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Headquarters and made to say that "Cong. Teves" gave the order to kill Degamo. He added that if he didn't point to Teves, his family would be put at risk.

"Dahil sa takot at baka ako at ang aking pamilya ay patayin, sumunod lamang ako sa kanilang gusto kahit na ang totoo ay hindi ko kailanman nakita o nakausap si Cong. Teves. Hindi ko rin siya kilala," Rivero said in the five-page counter-affidavit.

[Translation: Because I was scared that I or my family would be killed, I did what they wanted even if the truth is I never saw nor spoke to Cong. Teves. I do not know him.]

Rivero said he did not know anyone named Marvin.

Teves’ former bodyguard Marvin Miranda was also tagged as a mastermind in the killing.

“Hindi totoo na may kilala akong Marvin. At hindi rin totoo na aking itinuro ang litrato ni Cong. Teves nang ipaturo sa akin sa apat na litrato sapagkat hindi ko siya kilala at kailanman ay hindi ko pa siya nakikita,” Rivero said.

[Translation: It's not true that I know a Marvin. And it's also not true that I pointed to a photo of Cong. Teves when shown four photos because I do not know him and have never seen him.]

Rivero further denied he had knowledge of the plan to kill Degamo or that he was familiar with the guns and clothes used as he had never used nor seen them.

Montalbo said Rivero did not say what his participation was in the killing, adding his client was not given proper representation when he was taken by authorities.

"Ang tanging nalalaman lang ho namin ay si Mr. Osmundo Rivero ay hindi nabigyan ng maayos na abugado nung panahong siya ay kinuha ng mag awtoridad. At pangalawa hindi ho siya nabigyan ng mag basic rights na nakapaloob po sa ating Constitution na dapat ay meron siya nung panahon na kinuha siya," said Montalbo.

[Translation: All we know is Mr. Osmundo Rivero was not given a proper lawyer when he was taken by authorities. Second, he was not given his basic rights as said in the Constitution.]

He said Rivero was not given assistance by a lawyer when he was made to sign documents, as well as the right to be heard.

"Kaya ngayon nilalakad po namin ito sa pamamagitan ng pagpapaopen at pag bubukas ng bagong imbestigasyon," Montalbo added.

[Translation: We are now working on this by having another investigation opened.]

Montalbo did not give the reason behind the recantation.

Last week. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla said around six or seven suspects in the slay were not cooperating with the Department of Justice, saying they had "lawyered up."

"We suspect that they will change their statements later on. And they will make a recantation of sorts, but we’re not afraid of that because everything was fairly given, said in front of counsel," he said at a briefing on May 15.

Neither the DOJ nor the camp of Teves has given a statement on the recantation.

CNN Philippines' Anjo Alimario and Pia Garcia contributed to this report.