THE Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) has filed charges for violation of the firearms law against six individuals, including the secretary of Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo Teves Jr. following the raids conducted in his residences in the province last week.
The CIDG said six individuals, including Hanna Mae Sumerano Oray, Teves’ secretary, were arrested following the raids conducted in five different houses in Basay and Bayawan City, Negros Oriental on Friday, March 10, during the service of a search warrant.
Various long and short firearms, ammunition and explosives were recovered during the operations.
The arrested individuals were presented for inquest proceedings before the state prosecutors of the Department of Justice on Sunday, March 12.
Complaints for violations of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act (Republic Act 10591) and the Law on Explosives (RA 9516) were filed against Jose Pablo Gimarangan and Roland Aguisanda Pablio.
The CIDG said Teves is also “impleaded as respondent” in the cases.
Also, complaints for infringement of RA 10591 were filed against Oray, Heracleo Sangasin Oray, Rodolfo Teves Maturan, and Joseph Kyle Catan Maturan.
“Unfortunately, Congressman Arnolfo Teves Jr., Kurt Mathew Teves, and Axel Teves were not around during the said implementation of the SWs (search warrants) in their house; however, the criminal complaints against them for violation of RA 10591 and RA 9516 will be filed as soon as possible,” the CIDG said.
The raid came following the filing of murder charges against Teves over the killings of three individuals in the province in 2019.
Teves is also being tagged as mastermind of the brazen killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo on March 4 in Pamplona town.
He has denied all the accusations against him.
Teves is currently in the United States for a stem cell procedure.
He refused to return to the country despite the repetitive appeal of the House of Representatives, especially Speaker Martin Romualdez, for him to do so and face all the allegations against him and instead asked for more time for him to stay there.
His lawyers said Teves is concerned about his and his family’s safety amid the accusations against him.
They also denied that Teves owns the firearms recovered during the raids, saying the official already surrendered his firearms to proper authorities before he flew out of the country. (SunStar Philippines)