Also set to file murder, frustrated murder, attempted murder raps vs. ‘mastermind’ Marvin Miranda
The Department of Justice on Wednesday said it will file charges against suspended Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. “very soon,” saying there’s strong evidence linking the lawmaker to the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.
“Very soon. Although the exact date, I cannot say the exact date as we are prioritizing the quality of the case,” Justice spokesperson Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano said in an interview over radio DzBB.
The DOJ also announced that it would file charges against Marvin Miranda, an alleged mastermind in the assassination of Degamo, for nine counts of murder, 13 counts of frustrated murder, and four counts of attempted murder.
The department stressed that the indictment was based on the disclosures given by suspects surnamed Antipolo, Javier, Rodriguez, Labrador, and Rivero in their respective extrajudicial confessions that “Miranda played an indispensable part in the planning of the assassination of the governor.”
“The state prosecutors found that Miranda conspired in the commission of the crimes and recommended his indictment, together with accused Antipolo, Isturis, Javier, Pattaguan, E. Gonyon, and JL. Gonyon, who were previously charged in court,” the DOJ said in a statement.
“In effect, the state prosecutors would be amending the informations previously filed in court to include Miranda as one of the accused,” it added.
This came after Miranda underwent inquest proceedings at the DOJ on Monday afternoon.
Clavano stressed that the facts have been gathered and the agency is just tying up loose ends about the matter.
Earlier, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Monday said Teves appears to be the main mastermind in the murder of Degamo. He claimed that Teves acted like an “executive producer” in a movie who financed and arranged the plot.
“We have completed the facts and we have a strong case. If we follow Secretary Remulla’s direction, the film is already complete and all we need to do is to edit it so the presentation of facts, the evidence, and the statements of the witnesses would be better,” Clavano said.
He added that the DOJ wants the statements of the witnesses and suspects to be cohesive before they file the case.
“All of this is very clear—they won’t move without an order. They have nothing to gain by killing former governor Degamo. We can actually see a trail above and that’s what we want to tie up so that when we finally file the case, it’s clear what the motives were, who really ordered it, and when,” he said.
Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, Teves’ legal counsel, declined to make comments on Clavano’s remarks as it may result in an administrative case being filed against him.
“My comments to the latest pronouncements of Atty. Clavano are not conducive to fraternal relations between lawyers and may even result in the filing of an administrative case against me, so I would rather not disclose it. Suffice it to state that it deserves plenty of laughter emojis,” Topacio said.
Teves has denied that he and his brother, former Negros Oriental Governor Pryde Henry Teves, are involved in the killing.
His camp said he has yet to return to the Philippines due to concerns about his safety and security.
Topacio also previously said that they will no longer issue any comments after Remulla said that the case is now considered “closed.”
“We will just await the filing of whatever charges may be made and say our piece in the proper forum. Again, we emphasize that the bar of public opinion is not the right venue to determine the guilt or innocence of anyone,” Teves’ lawyer said.
Degamo and eight others were killed while several others were injured after an attack at the governor’s home in Negros Oriental on March 4 while he was distributing aid to his constituents.
Miranda was arrested in a hot pursuit operation on March 27 in Barangay Madlad in Barbaza, Antique where he was allegedly hiding. He was identified as the former bagman of Rep. Teves Jr.
According to the DOJ, the following cases, handled by the state prosecutors, are to be tried jointly with previous cases filed by the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor of Negros Oriental against accused Joric Labrador, Joven Javier, Banjie Rodriguez, and Osmundo Roias Rivero:
Nine counts of Murder for the killing of Governor Roel Degamo y Ragay, Jessie Bot-Ay y Soreno, Jose Marie Ramirez y Salma, Jomar Canseco y Villanueva, Crispin Vallega, Jr. y Futalan, Florenda Quinikito y Lovitaña, Joseph Retada y Singgit, Michael Gidan Fabugais y Tabaranza, and Jerome Maquiling y Cimara;
Thirteen counts of Frustrated Murder for the victims who sustained fatal injuries, namely: Liland Zoila B. Estacion, Gerald T. Malunes, David Toryan Cortez, Fredelino E. Café, Jr., Chyrell E. Garpen, Rosa Emelia Banquerigo, Vickmar Rayoso y Gaudiano, Maxben June Torremocha y Cabildo, Niki D. Espinas, Pedro W. Flores, Jr., Sgt. Edmar Sayon, Raymond V. Baro, and Edwarrymn T. Alavaren, and;
Four counts of Attempted Murder for the victims who sustained non-fatal injuries, namely: Rodelio Ragay Quinikito, Mario Mendanio Quilnet, Kris Arnold T. Lester, and Diomedes Omatang.
Remulla earlier said that Miranda was one of the masterminds of the assassination of Governor Degamo and was the “missing piece that will tie up all loose ends of the case.”
Remulla considered Miranda as a “director or casting director” of the movie, while Teves was an “executive producer,” appearing to be the main mastermind in the killing of Degamo.
“The case is 99% finished. Following the arrest of Marvin Miranda, I can tell you that it is only a matter of time before we can put this to bed,” Remulla said.