CEBU CITY, Cebu, March 16 (PIA) -- Members of the Regional Development Council (RDC) 7, chaired by Bohol Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado, observed a five-second silence to honor the memory of the late Gov. Roel Degamo of Negros Oriental during the RDC Full Council Meeting earlier today, March 16.

“Let us honor the memory of Gov. Degamo, being a fellow member of the RDC 7,” said Aumentado before the meeting was called to order.

The meeting also coincided with the date of burial of the slain governor in his hometown municipality of Siaton, Negros Oriental, where thousands of supporters flocked to send off the mortal remains of the governor to his final resting place.

A sad atmosphere prevailed in Negros Oriental, particularly in Siaton, the birthplace of Degamo, where people expressed grief and in tears and one with the family in painful mourning. Some were wearing t-shirts with the message “Justice for Gov. Roel Ragay Degamo and for those who were assassinated with him.”

Mourners attending the funeral are demanding justice for their beloved governor who was brutally killed, along with eight other innocent civilians, on March 4 when they were massacred in broad daylight at the governor’s residential compound in Pamplona, Negros Oriental.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. condemned the cruel murder of Degamo, saying during an earlier interview that the assassination was “entirely unacceptable and it will not stand,” ordering authorities to apprehend the suspects at all costs.

Th President has declared March 16, 2023 a special non-working holiday for Negros Oriental so that residents would have the chance to take part in the funeral of the governor.

Before the RDC7 meeting concluded, a resolution to recognize the late governor has also been approved en masse by the RDC7.

The council planned to give a posthumous award to the family of the late governor during the meeting today, but this was deferred since it runs in conflict with the schedule of the burial. (FCR/PIA7)