THE Department of Justice and the camp of former Negros Oriental congressman Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. are no longer allowed to talk or release statements regarding murder cases filed in connection with the 2023 killing of governor Roel Degamo and nine others.
Justice Assistant Secretary Jose Dominic Clavano said the gag order was issued by the Manila City Regional Trial Court (RTC) yesterday.
A gag order prohibits lawyers, parties, or witnesses in a pending case from commenting or discussing merits or issues in public.
The Degamo case was transferred to the Manila RTC from Negros Oriental based on an order from the Supreme Court on the request of the Department of Justice.
The murder case in connection with the Degamo killing is being tried before the sala of Manila RTC Branch 51 Presiding Judge Merianthe Pacita Zuraek.
“This gag order will prevent us from speaking on the merits of the case,” Clavano said, adding the DOJ welcomes the move because evidence and merits of the case are better presented in court.
“The gag order was issued by our judge here in the Philippines, so we are no longer allowed to mention or discuss matters that go into the merits of the case. We trust and respect that decision because we know that the proper process is to go through the court immediately,” he added.
A copy of the gag order from the court was not immediately made available.
Clavano said the DOJ would rather discuss the case behind closed doors because the “operational details involved in this case are very sensitive, so we welcome the gag order by the judge.”
“I think it is very prudent and diligent for him to issue such an order. We would comply with the order because we would rather battle it out in court,” he further said.
CLOSE MONITORING
Clavano assured the public the DOJ is “closely monitoring” Teves “because of the flight risk that he is.”
Teves remains in Timor-Leste pending decision of authorities there on whether to grant or deny his bid for political asylum. He was released from house arrest in Timor-Leste last week but his movements are still restricted by the authorities.
Clavano said Teves is required by the court in Timor-Leste to appear every two days.
Earlier, Clavano said they expect the court there to rule on Manila’s request to extradite Teves this month.
Clavano also thanked Timor-Leste for allowing the government to participate in court proceedings. He said they were planning to present five witnesses but the court said it is satisfied with the testimonies of just two of the witnesses.
“So we’re hoping for a very favorable decision para po makauwi na po si Ginoong Teves (so Mr Teves can come home),” he added.
Teves was arrested in March in Dili, Timor-Leste. His apprehension came three weeks after the International Criminal Police Organization placed him on its red notice system and his passport was cancelled by the Manila City regional trial court.
Aside from the Degamo case, Teves is also facing murder charges in connection with several killings in the province in 2019, including that of a former provincial board member.
Teves has denied the accusations but refused to return to the country.
