JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla yesterday said the National Bureau of Investigation is set file multiple and frustrated murder cases against suspended Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves next week in connection with the March 4 attack that killed Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and eight others and injured 18 others.
Remulla also said the Anti-Terrorism Council through its technical working group, is set to receive evidence regarding a move to declare Teves and several of his close associates “terrorists” under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.
“Yung cases, we will file next week. We’re looking at next week as the time for the filing of cases ng NBI dito sa DOJ (here at the Department of Justice),” Remulla told reporters in an ambush interview.
He said Teves will be sent a notice in his last known address informing him of the filing of the case, after certification from the Bureau of Immigration that he has not returned to the country.
“We will send it to his last known address and in his place of work para merong constructive notice na sa kanya,” Remulla added.
Earlier, Remulla said Teves appears to be the mastermind in the attack.
Teves, who refused to return to the country over fears for his safety, has denied any link or involvement in the killing.
Remulla also said the suspended solon could be traveling back and forth between South Korea and Cambodia. He did not elaborate.
Teves, aside from being implicated in the Degamo killing, is also facing multiple murder charges before the DOJ over the 2019 killing of three persons in Negros Oriental, and and illegal possession of firearms.
Remulla said they have seen a “pattern of killings” in Negros Oriental and it will bolster their move for the terrorist designation. On Monday, Remulla said aside from Teves, the department is working to also designate three to five of Teves’ allies as terrorists.
REFORMS
Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, chairman of the Senate panel that looked into the Degamo and other political killings, said he is eyeing five possible legislative measures and four policy reforms out of the three-day marathon hearings.
Dela Rosa said the possible legislative measures include amending the Omnibus Election Code, particularly Section 69 which tackles nuisance candidates; amendments to the Local Government Code to ensure that the appointing authority of chiefs of police must be with the PNP, and not local government officials; amendments to the Firearms Law after several firearms and ammunition were found in the property of the Teves and his brother; preventing the organization of private armies; and imposition of the death penalty on security forces that commit heinous crimes “taking undue advantage of their training, knowledge, and skills.”
For the policy reforms, Dela Rosa said, there should be stricter regulations on the sale and use of military and police uniforms, strict monitoring of dishonorably discharged military personnel, inventory of loose firearms, and updating of the PNP standards of procedures in addressing complaints of the citizens.
Dela Rosa’s Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs conducted hearings from April 17 to 19.
During the hearings, dozens of resource persons and witnesses pointed to Rep. Teves, his brother former governor Henry Pryde Teves, and a handful of their relatives and companions, as allegedly involved in the killing of Degamo, and others. They also said the Teveses were involved in illegal “e-sabong” operations, and the Teves family has been involved in land grabbing, among other crimes.
Henry Pryde, who attended all three hearings, denied the accusations.
Dela Rosa has not yet terminated the hearing. — With Raymond Africa
