Roel Degamo
Roel Ragay Degamo (April 29, 1966 – March 4, 2023) was a Filipino politician who served as governor of Negros Oriental from 2011 to June 2022, and again from October 2022 until his assassination on March 4, 2023. He previously served as the province's vice governor from 2010 to 2011, and was a municipal councilor of Siaton from 1998 to 2007.
Roel Degamo | |
|---|---|
Degamo in 2019 | |
| 20th Governor of Negros Oriental | |
| In office October 5, 2022 – March 4, 2023 | |
| Vice Governor | Carlo Jorge Joan Reyes |
| Preceded by | Pryde Henry Teves |
| Succeeded by | Carlo Jorge Joan Reyes |
| In office January 5, 2011 – June 30, 2022 Suspended: October 18, 2017 – January 17, 2018 | |
| Vice Governor | Apolinario Arnaiz Jr. (2011–2013) Edward Mark Macias (2013–2022) |
| Preceded by | Agustin Perdices |
| Succeeded by | Pryde Henry Teves |
| Vice Governor of Negros Oriental | |
| In office June 30, 2010 – January 5, 2011 | |
| Governor | Agustin Perdices |
| Preceded by | Jose Baldado |
| Succeeded by | Apolinario Arnaiz Jr. |
| Member of the Negros Oriental Provincial Board | |
Ex officio | |
| In office 2004 – June 30, 2007 | |
| Sector | Philippine Councilors League |
| Member of the Siaton Municipal Council | |
| In office June 30, 1998 – June 30, 2007 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Roel Ragay Degamo April 29, 1966 Siaton, Negros Oriental, Philippines |
| Died | March 4, 2023 (aged 56) Pamplona, Negros Oriental, Philippines |
| Manner of death | Assassination (gunshot wounds) |
| Resting place | Siaton, Negros Oriental, Philippines |
| Political party | Nacionalista (2018–2023) |
| Other political affiliations | NUP (2015–2018) PDP–Laban (until 2015) |
| Spouse | Janice Vallega |
| Children | 2 (adopted) |
| Residence(s) | Pamplona, Negros Oriental Siaton, Negros Oriental Dumaguete, Negros Oriental |
| Alma mater | Silliman University (BS) |
| Occupation |
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In the 2010 elections, he garnered the most votes for the Negros Oriental Provincial Board. With the successive deaths of the elected governor and vice governor, Degamo ascended to the governorship in January 2011. He was suspended from office in October 2017 until January 2018 due to three dismissal orders from the Office of the Ombudsman stemming from allegations of misappropriating public funds. He successfully appealed his suspension and dismissal.
Degamo lost the gubernatorial race to Pryde Henry Teves in the May 2022 elections. However, back in October 2021, during the run-up to the elections, Degamo filed an electoral complaint to have another gubernatorial candidate—an almost namesake known as "Ruel Degamo"—be declared a nuisance candidate meant to "confuse and deceive" the electorate. The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) ruled in the governor's favor, however, the latter candidate filed an appeal. The election pushed through before COMELEC made a final ruling on the case. In June 2022, a defeated Degamo filed a petition for mandamus at the Supreme Court, which compelled COMELEC to resolve the case. On October 3, 2022, COMELEC upheld their earlier decision and transferred votes obtained by Ruel to Roel, proclaiming him the election's true winner.
On March 4, 2023, he was assassinated by a group of armed men at his home in Pamplona, Negros Oriental.