AUTHORITIES recovered alleged illegal firearms and ammunition during a raid conducted on Friday, March 24, 2023, in a compound owned by former Negros Oriental governor Pryde Henry Teves, the brother of embattled Negros Oriental Third District Rep. Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr.

The raiding team also recovered P17 million in cash, according to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group’s (CIDG) legal division chief, Col. Thomas Valmonte.

In a press conference, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said the CIDG raided a property in Barangay Caranoche in Santa Catalina town by virtue of a search warrant for alleged violations of Republic Act 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Law.

“One of the subjects of the warrant is HDJ Bayawan Agriventures, where, based on records, Mr. Henry Pryde Teves serves as its president,” Fajardo said in Tagalog.

She said three people were placed under police custody while verification of the recovered firearms is ongoing.

Fajardo said a person came up to the PNP and informed them that high-powered firearms were being kept in the compound.

According to Valmonte, the firearms recovered by the raiding team have no licenses based on the records provided by the Firearms and Explosives Office.

The CIDG personnel found some of the firearms buried underneath the ground inside the compound, Valmonte said.

The CIDG had earlier conducted a raid at the congressman’s residences in the province where they seized various firearms and ammunition.

The lawmaker is being tagged as the brains behind the March 4 killing of Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo. / TPM, AYB / KAL