Pamplona massacre

The Pamplona massacre was a mass shooting and assassination incident that took place in Pamplona, Negros Oriental, Philippines. On March 4, 2023, at approximately 9:36 a.m. (PhST), a group of armed men stormed the residence of Roel Degamo, the governor of Negros Oriental, killing him as well as nine others. The attack happened during the distribution of aid to the local beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. Degamo was rushed to a nearby provincial hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11:41 a.m. (PhST).

An investigation was launched by Philippine authorities after the attack. Politics was considered to be the primary motive behind the attack, as Degamo was involved in a contested May 2022 gubernatorial election which saw him assuming the office for a fourth term after winning an electoral protest against Pryde Henry Teves, who was initially proclaimed winner of the elections. Eleven suspects (some of whom were former members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines) were arrested by police in multiple operations across the province. Two of the suspects named a certain "Cong Teves" as the mastermind in an ambush interview with the media. Arnie Teves, the representative of Negros Oriental's 3rd district, who was abroad during the attack, was suspended by the House of Representatives following his failure to return to the country to face investigation. He was later expelled by the House, the first expulsion of a representative in the Fifth Republic. The Senate also launched an inquiry regarding the incident, and invited Arnie Teves via teleconferencing but ultimately withdrew due to legal uncertainties. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla considers the representative to be the 'highest mastermind' of the attack.

On February 29, 2024, Interpol issued a red notice against Teves upon the request of the Philippines. Weeks later, on March 21, Teves was arrested in Dili, Timor-Leste by local authorities. He was deported to the Philippines in May 2025.