MURDER charges have been filed against suspended Negros Oriental third district representative Arnolfo Teves Jr. in relation to the assassination of Governor Roel Degamo in March which also resulted in the killing of nine innocent civilians.

In an interview with reporters on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said charges of multiple murder, multiple frustrated murder and multiple attempted murder have been filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) against Teves before the Department of Justice (DOJ).

“Alam ko siya (Arnie Teves) muna rito sa complaint na ‘to because the decision is still ongoing for other cases and the other suspects in other roles and other crimes,” he said.

Teves was tagged as the “executive producer” in Degamo’s killing which happened in broad daylight on March 4.

While the embattled lawmaker denied involvement in the crime, Remulla said evidence pointed to Teves as the mastermind in the killing.

Remulla on Tuesday, May 16 said he received information from a reliable source that Teves is set to return to the country on May 17, after his application for political asylum in Timor Leste was denied.

In a radio interview, Teves said it was “fake news.”

Authorities arrested 11 suspects in Degamo’s execution including the 10 who directly participated in the attack and one of the alleged masterminds.

The DOJ earlier recommended the indictment of Marvin Halaman Miranda who allegedly served as the “director” in the assassination of Degamo.

Miranda and the other suspects are to be tried jointly for charges of murder, frustrated murder and attempted murder. (SunStar Philippines)