CA affirms grant of bail to 3 Degamo case suspects
The Court of Appeals (CA) has affirmed a Manila court’s decision to grant bail to three individuals facing charges of illegal possession of firearms in relation to the killing of former Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo in 2023.
In a resolution dated Oct. 2, the CA’s Third Division denied the government’s motion for reconsideration of its earlier ruling upholding the grant of bail to Nigel Electona, Jeson Timtim, and Dionilo Mayagma.
Electona was chief of security at the compound owned by former Gov. Pryde Henry Teves, one of the alleged “brains” in Degamo’s killing.
Electona, security guard Timtim and fire truck driver Mayagma were arrested 20 days after the killing during a search of the compound which yielded firearms.
The CA, in the resolution written by Associate Justice Ruben Reynaldo Roxas, ruled the Manila court properly exercised its discretion in granting the bail applications after following the required procedures.
It noted that evidence presented showed Electona and Timtim each possessed only one small firearm without the necessary license, with Electona admitting to owning a cal. .22 rifle, while Timtim was linked to a cal. .45 Grandmaster STI pistol found in his belongings.
