Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr. on Friday, March 10, called on fellow lawmaker Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. to return to the Philippines and confront the allegation that he masterminded the assassination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.
Revilla said Teves’ return to the country from the United States is just the most prudent and right thing to do, particularly when he is an elected official.
“Linisin niya ang kanyang pangalan kung talagang wala siyang kinalaman (He has to clean his name if he has not done anything wrong),” Revilla emphasized.
“Flight is an indication of guilt,” he added.
“This is after suspected hitmen publicly identified him as the brains behind the slay” based on a statement of the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) Degamo, Revilla stated.
Police Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare, SITG Degamo spokesperson, said the suspects arrested in their manhunt operations revealed in an interview with the media in Manila on Thursday, March 9, that Teves ordered them to kill Degamo.
Revilla also called on the other perpetrators still at large to give themselves up and surrender as he said the long arm of the law is closing in.
He cited the President’s resolve to put an end to senseless violence and warlordism and assured those on the run that they would be caught by any means necessary sooner than later.
“No less than President Bongbong Marcos is overseeing this,” Revilla pointed out.
President Ferdinand ‘’Bongbong’’ Marcos Jr. earlier warned all those involved in the killing: “You can run but you cannot hide.”
“We will find you. If you surrender now it will be your best option,” he strongly warned.