The Department of Justice (DOJ) mulls tagging suspended Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. as a terrorist, along with some of his close associates suspected of complicity in certain criminal acts including the murder of Governor Roel Degamo last March 4.
Meanwhile, Teves asserted that the police raid on his property in the province was meant to pin him down.
In an interview, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla disclosed that the plan to designate Teves as a terrorist, along with possibly five of the embattled lawmaker’s cohorts including Marvin Miranda, one of the suspected brains behind the assassination of Degamo.
“We’ll be meeting with the Anti-Terror Council (ATC) very soon, in the next few days, and we’ll be discussing… the designation of Congressman Teves as a terrorist. And some of the people who work with him to… have the same designation,” Remulla said.
“We’re looking at three, four, or five other people who may be considered as part of the terror organization of Mr. Teves,” he added.
Asked if this included Miranda, Remulla admitted that he (Miranda) was part of the “core group.”
“He (Miranda) is a member of the core group … what others call a terrorist cell. He is included,” the DOJ chief said.
According to Remulla, the five people were not government officials, but played “very pivotal roles” in the killing of Degamo and eight others on March 4.
“That act alone instilled fear in most people in Negros Oriental. If they can do it to a governor, what more for other people, ordinary people. I think that’s something we should remember,” Remulla stressed.
He emphasized that the five personalities played “different roles” when asked if the five people they are seeking to designate as terrorists are the same five possible masterminds in the Degamo killing.
Despite this, he said authorities were still working on the details. Remulla had said that Teves appeared to be the mastermind behind the assassination, likening him to an “executive producer” and Miranda a “director or casting director.”
Teves’ legal counsel Ferdinand Topacio declined to comment.
“No comment. Walang basagan ng trip,” Topacio said in a text message.
Teves has vehemently denied involvement in the Degamo slay.
In the same interview, Remulla said they will look into Teves’ alleged illegal cockfighting and Small Town Lottery (STL) operations.
The slain governor’s widow, Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo, alleged during a Senate hearing that Teves and his brother, former Negros Oriental Governor Pryde Henry, were amassing their wealth through illegal gambling operations, notably e-sabong.
Henry however, also denied the allegations.
“That’s where we’re it could go now. The fact that this money is being used—was used to finance terrorism, should be one angle that we should follow as investigators, as people who are investigating a crime so dastardly,” Remulla said.
Earlier, Remulla said the complaint for illegal possession of firearms and explosives filed against Teves was enough to designate him as terrorist to force him to surrender to authorities.
Teves, who has yet to return to the country amid fears for his safety, dismissed as “funny” his being tagged as a terrorist.
The lawmaker appealed for fairness, saying he will come home “when it is safe enough” or when the trial is fair.
According to Remulla, authorities also found a helicopter owned by Teves, believed to have been used by the hitmen to flee Negros Oriental after the killing of Degamo.
“They (suspects) were whisked out of Negros Oriental and brought to Maguindanao using a helicopter,” Remulla said.
Remulla said the helicopter was retrieved from Teves’ hangar in Dumaguete.
He said they were looking at placing the helicopter under the Philippine National Police or the Philippine Army in Cebu for safekeeping.
Remulla also said he met with Mayor Degamo and other families of the eight fatalities during the attack on the governor.
“We talked with her and she was just thanking us, the DOJ, for the job that we’re doing regarding the cases that have been there,” he said.
The Justice Secretary said he may also meet with some of those injured during the March 4 incident.
For her part, Mayor Degamo said she had extended her gratitude to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
She said they told him they will not abuse his kindness and will only ask for help if necessary.
“The President also dropped by only for a short time. I was told that he didn’t really stay too long . . . He just wanted to greet everybody and I think the executive secretary stayed longer,” Remulla said.
In a television interview, Teves said one of those involved in the raid even told him that they received orders from two high officials to pin him down.
“’Yung isang nag-raid nagsabi, ‘Pasensiya na kayo boss, utos ito ng dalawa doon sa taas.’ Hindi ko lang babanggitin ‘yung pangalan. ‘Wala kaming magawa dahil utos nila talaga na idiin kayo’,” Teves told CNN Philippines in an interview.
GMA News Online has sought comment from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), but got no response as of posting time.
DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos, whom Teves in January linked to the raid, has already denied the accusation, calling it “preposterous.” At that time, Teves has linked Abalos to efforts to secure a search warrant on his residence and plant evidence against him.
Teves reiterated he did not own the guns and explosives allegedly seized from his house, saying these were planted.
Topacio earlier said his client had already surrendered the firearms that he owned after receiving information regarding the raid.
The lawmaker said he had revealed to the public that a raid might be conducted against him as early as January.
“Sino naman tanga, maglalagay or mag-iiwan ng kahit anong gamit sa bahay niya kung alam nang ire-raid? January pa lang. Hindi naman ako pinanganak kahapon,” Teves said.
Remulla has also said the complaint for illegal possession of firearms and explosives filed against Teves was enough to designate him as a terrorist, which may drive him to surrender.