Some detained suspects in the March 4 killings of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and eight other persons have reportedly pointed to Rep. Arnolfo A. Teves Jr.’s “involvement” as a “mastermind".
But Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla said: “Hindi ko ho alam pa ‘yan (I don’t know that yet).”
“Kailangan ko mabasa ‘yung mga statement kasi ‘yan ang gagamitin nating basehan ‘pag nagfile ng kaso (I have to read the statements because these will be used as basis in filing cases),” Remulla said.
What he knows, Remulla said, is that Congressman Teves Jr. has been told to heed calls for him to return to the Philippines and face the allegations against him including involvement in the killing of Degamo.
“Hanggang ngayon na lang ang palugit na ibinigay ng Kongreso na umuwi si Congressman Teves mula sa Amerika at hindi s’ya binigyan ng extension (Teves who is currently in the United States has been given by the House of Representatives an ultimatum to return to the Philippines today and he was not been given an extension),” he told journalists.
“Kaya inaaasahan namin na uuwi na siya kung talagang haharap sya sa ganitong mga usapin na sya’y itinuturo na maaring kasabwat sa mga nangyaring karumal-dumal sa Negros Oriental (That’s why we expect him to return home to face allegations pointing him as being involved in the gruesome things that have taken place in Negros Oriental),” he said.
On the “masterminds” in the killings, Remulla expressed belief that “hanggang tatlo o apat ‘yan na nagkaisa na magplano at kumuha na lang sila ng ibang tao para sumapi (We suspect that there are three or four persons involved in the planning and took other individuals to join in).”
He reminded that there were nine persons killed, including Degamo, during the shooting that took place at the governor’s home in Pamplona town last Saturday, March 4.
“Syempre hindi naman madaling gumawa ng ganitong pagkilos e. Tinatawag natin itong malaking pagkilos po nung ginawa nila’yung pagpaslang sa siyam na tao, 16 pa ang nasaktan. Isang malaking pagkilos ‘yan na hindi kayang gawin ng isang tao lang. Marahil ‘yan ay maraming nag-usap-usap diyan (Of course this act was not easy to do. It can be considered major operation since nine persons were killed and 16 others were hurt from the incident. This can’t be done by just one person. Most likely many people were involved in the planning),” he added.
Remulla assured that the Witness Protection Program (WPP) will provide security to the arrested suspects who are willing to cooperate in the investigation.
The four suspects who are detained at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) detention cell have been identified as Joric Garido Labrador, Joven Calibjo Javier, Benjie Buladola Rodriguez, and Osmundo Rojas Rivero.
“Ang pagprotect sa kanilang pamilya ay napakahalaga sapagkat ano ba ang kanilang katatakutan kundi sila ay babalikan sa pamamagitan ng kanilang mahal sa buhay (Protecting their families is important because they fear retribution that could target their families),” he added.
Meanwhile, lawyer Ferdinand S. Topacio, Teves Jr.’s legal counsel, called “on all concerned to observe sobriety in their pronouncements regarding the allegations against Rep. Arni Teves in the face of certain accusations against him in connection with the killing of Governor Roel Degamo and several other persons.”
“The killing has already been denounced strongly by Rep. Teves, who has denied involvement therein. It will not serve the ends of justice any by publicly obfuscating the issues prematurely before a thorough investigation in accordance with procedures provided for by law,” Topacio said in a statement sent to journalists.
“Verily, justice can only be done to the victims if and when the real perpetrators are brought before the bar of justice and convicted with finality. In the meantime, all must be mindful of the fact that our Supreme Court itself has already said that accusation is not synonymous with guilt, and the Constitution guarantees to every person the presumption of innocence,” he said.
He assured that “we shall face any and all accusations consistent with the courses outlined in the legal system, confident that, in the end, our client will be exonerated.”
Congressman Teves Jr. has also been charged with murder before the DOJ in the alleged killings of three persons in Negros Oriental in 2019.