New Negros Oriental governor sworn in

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 5) — Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos swore in former Negros Oriental Vice Governor Carlo Jorge Joan Reyes as the province’s new governor Saturday night hours after his predecessor Roel Degamo was killed.

Abalos also swore in board member Manuel Sagarbarria as the new vice governor on Sunday.

In a Facebook post, Abalos also condemned the assassination of Degamo and other victims.

“Sa pinagsanib na pwersa ng kapulisyahan at militar, asahan niyong hindi tayo titigil hanggang sa makamit ang hustisya sa mga biktima ng karahasang ito,” he added.

[Translation: With the combined forces of the police and military, we will not stop until justice is served for the victims of this violence.]

Degamo was gunned down inside his residential compound in Brgy. San Isidro in Pamplona, Negros Oriental Saturday morning.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Degamo was in the middle of a meeting with some of his constituents at 9:50 a.m. when around 10 armed men entered the compound and opened fire.

The shooters were clad in military uniform and bulletproof vests, and carried long firearms, the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the PNP revealed in separate statements.

The governor's wife, Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo, said her husband was pronounced dead at 11:41 a.m. at a hospital in Dumaguete City.

READ: Negros Oriental governor assassinated inside home, 3 suspects arrested

READ: Suspect in Negros Oriental governor assassination killed in encounter PNP