THE Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) has designated suspended Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo Teves Jr., his brother Pryde Henry and 11 others as terrorists over their alleged involvement in several murder incidents and harassment in Negros Oriental.
The ATC issued Resolution 43 dated July 26 but was released to the media on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, tagging Teves as a terrorist and leader of an alleged armed group.
The others who were designated as members of the “Teves Terrorist Group” were:
* Marvin H. Miranda
* Rogelio C. Antipolo
* Rommel Pattaguan
* Winrich B. Isturis
* John Louie Gonyon
* Dahniel Lora
* Eulogio Gonyon Jr.
* Tomasino Aledro
* Nigel Electona
* Jomarie Catubay
* Hannah Mae Sureo Oray
Teves and Miransa were accused of committing terrorism (Section 4 of the Anti-Terror Act of 2020); planning, training, preparing and facilitating the commission of terrorism (Section 6); recruitment in a terrorist organization (Section 10); and providing material support to terrorists (Section 12).
Pryde Henry and Aledro were accused for violation of Section 4A, or engagement in acts intended to cause death or serious bodily injury to any person or endangers a person’s life; planning, training, preparing and facilitating the commission of terrorism; and providing material support to terrorists.
The others were accused of violation of the Section 4A and 6 of the said measure.
Teves was tagged as the mastermind in the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.
Miranda, Isturis, Antipolo, Pattaguan, Gonyon, Lora, Gonyon Jr. and Electona were arrested over their direct involvement in Degamo’s assassination.
Teves is currently out of the country as he refused to go home due to what he claims as “threats” against his life following his implication in Degamo’s death.
The ATC said that prior to the assassination of Degamo, numerous “politically and economically motivated killings” were attributed to the congressman and his armed group of followers/supporters.
It said the victims and the families have remained silent and did not file any criminal complaint against Teves Jr. and his group of armed men because of the existing atmosphere of fear and threat prevailing in the province.
“A closer evaluation of these killings and harassments shows an unmistakable pattern of a rather organized and orchestrated action. These killings and harassments are meticulously and deliberately planned and executed for the purpose of intimidating the residents of Negros Oriental as well as to create an atmosphere or spread a message of fear,” the ATC said.
“These acts are also designed to influence by intimidation the local population and government of Negros Oriental to seriously undermine public safety and to ensure that Cong. Teves, Jr. and his group could continue and expand their reign of terror in the guise of political leadership,” it added.
In a press conference, Assistant Director General of the National Security Council Jonathan Malaya clarified that the move to designate Teves and his group as terrorist is not solely premised on the assassination of Degamo.
He said the killing of Degamo and his supporters made the council establish the pattern of violent activities that warrant his designation and that of his group as a terrorist organization.
Malaya said the main objective of the designation, aside from freezing the assets of the designees, is to stop them from committing their illegal acts that cause fear and intimidation to the public, in this case, to the residents of Negros Oriental.
“That is exactly the signal that we want to send to the people of Negros Oriental para mawalan ng pangil mawalan ng lakas ng loob because if you are designated as terrorist organization that is a serious designation and our desire here is for him and his group to stop what he is doing,” he said.
“So that is the practical benefit to the government. The terrorist designation serves to return the province to the peace and order situation na gusto nating mangyari sa lugar na yun,” he added.
Aside from the freezing of assets of the designees, the Department of Justice (DOJ) refused to reveal the next moves against Teves “so as not to telegraph exactly the next moves of the government.”
DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano said there will be no arrest for Teves and his brother in particular following their terrorist tag as it can only be made through a court order. (SunStar Philippines)