Arrest warrant out vs Teves, 3 others over Degamo murder

A MANILA court issued on Tuesday, September 5, 2023, an arrest warrant against expelled Negros Oriental Third District representative Arnolfo Teves Jr. and three of his alleged cohorts over the brazen killing of Governor Roel Degamo and nine others.

In a decision handed down by Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 51 Judge Merianthe Pacita M. Zuraek, she said the court finds probable cause to issue a warrant of arrest against Teves, Angelo Palagtiw and his alleged sister identified as “Jie Ann” or “Gie Ann” and helicopter pilot Captain Lloyd Garcia II in relation to the charges of murder, frustrated murder and attempted murder filed against them by the Department of Justice on August 18.

The court noted Teves’ aliases Arnie, Big Boss Idol, Idol and Kalbo.

Zuraek set the arraignment of the accused on October 4, 2023.

The court also ordered the transfer of Nigel Electona, who was also among the respondents in the case, to Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan from the Manila City Jail.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Electona played a vital role in the assassination of Degamo on March 4.

Electona was among the three individuals arrested in a raid conducted at the HDJ Bayawan Agri-ventures Corporation, Tolong compound in Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental, allegedly owned by the Teveses, on March 24 where various high powered firearms, ammunition and improvised explosive devices were recovered.

Cash worth almost P19 million was also discovered in a van parked inside the compound.

In a separate raid conducted on March 26 in Electona’s residence, police found alleged illegal firearms and ammunition, hand grenades, pictures of Degamo and his family, maps, house routes and a photo of the gate of Degamo’s residence believed to have been used in the planning stage of the murder.

Electona was a policeman who was dismissed from service in 2017 after being arrested due to illegal drugs in 2016.

He then started working under Teves and later became the chief security officer of the HDJ Tolong compound.

In July, the court indicted Winrich Isturis, Joric Labrador, Benjie Rodriguez, Eulogio and John Louie Gonyong, Joven Javier, Dahniel Lora, Romel Pattaguan, Jhudiel Rivero, Rogelio Antipolo Jr. and Marvin Miranda over Degamo’s execution. (SunStar Philippines)