The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday belied charges that it was influencing witnesses to testify against expelled Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. over his alleged involvement in the March 4, 2023 murder of Gov. Roel Degamo and nine other people.
DOJ Assistant Secretary Jose Dominic Clavano debunked the accusations made by Teves counsel Ferdinand Topacio that Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has been “tampering” with two arrested conspirators in the case in the absence of legal counsels “in order to pollute them by either intimidating or coercing them to testify against Rep. Teves, and/or offering them substantial sums to do so.”
“I can confirm that this statement is completely misleading,” Clavano asserted.
“The evidence is strong and we just want to finally be able to present it in court and have the court decide on the guilt of the perpetrator,” he stressed.
“This case is more than just a case of multiple murder, it is a massacre of a sitting governor. It is a massacre of innocent bystanders,” he noted.
Clavano renewed his call for Teves to return to the Philippines and face the charges against him over the massacre that took place in Pamplona, Negros Oriental.
“The people don’t need this kind of roundabout. He should face the case, face the court,” Clavano said.
Teves has not returned to the country since early last year and has remained in Timor-Leste where he was arrested last March based on a red notice issued by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) on representation by the Philippine government.
But Teves remained in Timor-Leste due to court proceedings on his arrest.
The fugitive lawmaker was designated as a terrorist in July last year by the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC).
He had been charged with 10 counts of murder, 12 counts of frustrated murder, and four counts of attempted murder before the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 51 over the Pamplona incident. The trial court had issued an arrest order against him.