[6] On October 3, 2022, COMELEC upheld their earlier decision and transferred votes obtained by Ruel to Roel, proclaiming him the election's true winner.

He finished his primary and secondary education in his hometown and in Dumaguete, respectively; then earned his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Silliman University in 1989.

[10] He worked at the National Power Corporation since 1991; was promoted in 1992 as senior plant mechanic, and in 1995 as electrical control operator of the Integrated Barge Management Department, both positions co-terminus with the project.

[10][12] His only, adopted son, Carlo (Degamo Remontal),[10] and his nephew, Nyrth Christian, are members of the Negros Oriental Provincial Board.

[13] Degamo started his political career in his hometown of Siaton, serving three consecutive terms in the Sangguniang Bayan (municipal council) from 1998 to 2007.

[4] In the 2010 elections he ran for a regular seat in the Negros Oriental Provincial Board, and won with the highest number of votes, representing the 3rd legislative district of the province.

[29] Adhering to the Paris Agreement, in 2018, Degamo issued an executive order mandating the use of renewable energy in the province and imposed a moratorium on coal, which he strongly opposed.

[28] With Negros Oriental still the only province in Central Visayas to face the problem of communist insurgency, his administration started development projects.

The province was the first in the country to establish its Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, in 2019, with Degamo as chairperson.

[35][36] However, the almost-imitated name (Ruel Degamo) remained on the official ballot pending a final COMELEC en banc ruling by election day.

Meanwhile, Teves, refusing to step down, had filed an appeal before the Supreme Court (SC) to contest the latest COMELEC ruling, which was expected to be decided by October 11.

[42][2] On February 14, 2023, the SC en banc dismissed the petitions separately filed by Teves, as well as by Gaudia; thus, the COMELEC's declaration of Degamo's victory was affirmed.

[68] In 2024, Teves was arrested by authorities in Dili, Timor-Leste[56] about a month after a red notice was issued for him by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol).