THE Department of Justice (DOJ) is looking into designating three to five people as terrorist considering their “pivotal roles” in the murder of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.
Aside from suspended Negros Oriental third district representative Arnolfo Teves Jr., Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Monday, April 24, 2023 they are also studying to designate three to five individuals “who may be considered as part of the terror organization” of the lawmaker.
Remulla said it includes Marvin Miranda, one of the arrested alleged masterminds in the killing of Degamo and eight others on March 4 in Pamplona town.
“We’ll be meeting with the Anti-Terror Council very soon, in the next few days, and we’ll be discussing, the designation of Congressman Teves as a terrorist. And some of the people who work with him to have the same designation,” he said in an interview with reporters.
“That act alone instilled fear in most people in Negros Oriental. If they can do it to a governor, what more for other people, ordinary people. I think that’s something we should remember,” he added.
Remulla said part of what they are looking into is the source of funds of Teves particularly his links to illegal cockfighting and Small Town Lottery operations in the province.
Remulla also revealed that investigators found a helicopter allegedly owned by Teves. It was retrieved from Teves’ hangar in Dumaguete City.
He said the aircraft was used by the suspects in Degamo’s killing to get out of the province immediately.
“’Yan isa yan sa mga bagay na napapaniwala ka na meron siyang kinalaman kasi chopper niya mismo ang ginamit na sinakyan ng mga salarin upang makatakas sila mula sa Negros Oriental,” he added.
(That's one of the things that makes you believe that he had something to do with it because it was his chopper that was used by the criminals to escape from Negros Oriental.)
Remulla said they are seeking to place under the custody of police or military the said helicopter for safekeeping.
In a television interview, Teves, who repeatedly denied involvement in the incident, asked Remulla why is he pinning him down.
Remulla earlier said Teves served as the “executive producer” in Degamo’s killing while Miranda was the director.
“Kung ita-tag ako ng kung ano mang pangalan diyan terorista man o ano ‘yan ibig sabihin, guilty na ako sa kanila, ito ‘yong sinasabi ko, sa’n ‘yong semblance of fairness? Bakit niya ako tinutumbok, Boying (Remulla), bakit mo ako tinutumbok?” Teves said.
“No’ng sinabi na sinimulan na ‘yong proseso para sa pagdeklara sa akin na terorista, paano niyo sisimulan ‘yong proseso na hindi pa nga ako guilty? ‘Di ba? Guilty lang ako sa pagtuturo nila Boying, boss Boying bakit mo ako tinututuro, ano’ng galit mo sa akin? Ano’ng ginawa ko sa’yo, wala akong kasalanan sa inyo boss, bakit niyo ako tinuturo? Sobra naman ‘yan, kawawa na kami masyado pati ang pamilya ko,” he added.
He also maintained that the firearms seized during raids in his houses in the province, which is among the basis of him being tagged as a terrorist, were all planted.
Teves claimed that one of the members of the raiding team said that the operations against him came from the orders of two high-ranking officials.
In a press conference in January, Teves said he received information from a reliable sources that Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. has ordered some agencies to secure a search warrant for the conduct of a raid in his house and to plant evidence once they don’t get anything during the operations just to ensure the filing of charges against him.
The DOJ moved to designate Teves as a terrorist amid his refusal to come back to the country and face the allegations against him.
Remulla said tagging Teves as a terrorist would make his world smaller. (SunStar Philippines)