THE camp of suspended Negros Oriental Third District Representative Arnolfo Teves Jr. said it is no longer surprised with the government’s move to tag the lawmaker as terrorist in a bid to pin him as the brains behind the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.
In a statement, Teves’ legal counsel, Ferdinand Topacio, said the government is obviously weaponizing the Anti-Terror Act, especially amid the lack of evidence after several witnesses withdrew their affidavits implicating the congressman on Degamo’s assassination.
“Since day one of the Degamo killing, the government has mobilized all the resources at its disposal -- starting with immediately tagging Mr. Teves as the mastermind thereof without investigation, conducting illegal searches on his properties, laying siege to his powers and prerogatives as member of the House, embarking on a massive media campaign to discredit him and prejudice the minds of the public against him, among others -- all in an obsessive attempt to blame him for a crime at the expense of his constitutional rights,” Topacio said in a statement.
“This development should send shivers down the spine of every citizen, for the liberties of none are safe unless the liberties of all are protected,” he added.
Teves, along with his brother Pryde Henry, and 11 others, including the arrested individuals who allegedly took part in Degamo’s assassination in March 2022, were designated by the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) as terrorists and members of the “Teves Terrorist Group.”
Shocking
In a radio interview, Pryde Henry said he finds the decision of the ATC as shocking and depressing.
He said they are studying now how to appeal it, noting that as a victim of terrorism, he will never engaged in such an activity.
“For now, ang nasa isip ko (what’s in my mind is), how to do my daily grind, how to make living daily. May pinapaaral pa ako eh (I still have some students). I still have a family to support,” he said.
Pryde Henry cited his cooperation since the beginning of investigation on Degamo’s death, noting that he “never intended to run and never will.”
Oppression
The lawyers of Rogelio C. Antipolo, Rommel Pattaguan, Dahniel Lora, Nigel Electona, Winrich B. Isturis, John Louie Gonyon and Eulogio Gonyon Jr. who were included in the list also slammed the terrorist tagging.
“It smacks of oppression, abuse of power and the exact paradigm of capricious disregard of due process of law. A reading of all the malicious charges against my client would show that the allegations in support thereof are very shallow, twisted, obviously contrived and based on planted and fabricated evidence,” Electona’s legal counsel, Michael Mella, said.
Protection
Meanwhile, Degamo’s wife, Pamplona Mayor Janice, welcomed the ATC’s move, noting that it shows the government’s effort to protect its people.
“Dapat lang na harapin nila 'yun dahil kahit kailan, hindi matatago ang katotohanan (They should just face it because the truth can never be hidden). I am very happy sa Anti-Terrorism Council that finally tagged them (Teves brothers) as terrorists. There's no lesser words to use to brand these people,” she said in a radio interview.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier said that putting a terrorist tag on Teves will make his world small, as he continuously refused to come back home and face the allegations against him.
Teves recently sought asylum in Timor Leste but his appeal was rejected. (SunStar Philippines)