The manhunt operations for the remaining suspects who killed Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and eight others will continue, according to the Philippine Army.

Lt. Col. Roderick Salayo, commanding officer of the Philippine Army’s 11th Infantry Battalion (IB) based in Siaton town, told the Philippine News Agency in an interview Sunday that they believe the remaining suspects are still in the province.

While four suspects have been arrested and charged with multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder cases, Salayo said the others are still being hunted down in Negros Oriental.

He said there could be more, based on information coming from various sources.

Another one was killed during pursuit operations the morning after.

Police and military sources initially said there were at least 10 suspects in the shooting incident now known as the “Pamplona massacre”.

“The manhunt will continue for the suspects indefinitely until the mastermind is arrested. We will also endeavor to win the trust and confidence of the people while working to stabilize the peace and order in the province,” Salayo said in mixed English and Filipino.

“And if they are no longer here, the manhunt will still continue elsewhere,” he added.

Meanwhile, thousands of troops from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) were deployed over the weekend in different parts of the province to conduct joint security checkpoints following the creation of the Task Force Negros as ordered by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

Salayo led the sendoff ceremony of hundreds of composite soldiers from six Army battalions in the province to man at least 21 joint AFP-PNP checkpoints, initially in the Third District of the province.

The soldiers are from the 11, 94, 62, 47, 79, and 15 IB.

Additional troop deployment is set soon.

Salayo said while the Degamo slay was the primary reason for the tightened security checkpoints, these will also play a significant role “side-by-side with their anti-insurgency campaign in the province.”

CURRENTPH NEWS SERVICE