Expelled Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo “Arnie” A. Teves Jr. has been charged before the Manila regional trial court (RTC) with 10 counts of murder, 14 counts of frustrated murder, and four counts of attempted murder in connection with the killings of Gov. Roel R. Degamo and nine other persons in Pamplona town last March 4.
The frustrated and attempted murder charges were for those 18 individuals who were seriously injured during the Degamo slaying.
Department of Justice (DOJ) Assistant Secretary and Spokesperson Jose Dominic F. Clavano IV confirmed the filing of the cases before the Manila RTC. He did not say, however, when the cases were filed.
The Supreme Court (SC) had earlier ordered the filing before the Manila RTC of the cases involving the Degamo killing.
“‘Yung Degamo case po ay naifile na din po sa Manila (The case has been filed in Manila),” Clavano said during a news forum in Quezon City on Saturday, Aug. 26.
“So, ‘yun po ay nasa korte na rin at hinihintay na lang din po natin ang warrant of arrest doon (So, that’s with the court now and we are waiting for the issuance of the warrant of arrest),” he added.
Clavano said a DOJ panel of prosecutors issued a resolution last Aug. 18 recommending the indictment of Teves in the March 4, 2023 killings in Pamplona town in Negros Oriental.
Also, Clavano said the DOJ had also filed before the Bayawan City RTC multiple murder cases against Teves for the deaths of three persons in Negros Oriental in 2019.
Those killed in separate incidents in 2019 were former Negros Oriental board member and former National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agent Michael Dungog; Lester Bato, a body guard of Basay mayoralty candidate Cliff Cordova; and Pacito Libron, an alleged hitman associated with Teves.
Clavano said the DOJ has requested the SC for the transfer to Manila of the cases in the three killings to “have a neutral ground” during the trial.
“We’re hoping that the judges (to whom the cases would be assigned) will find probable cause to issue a warrant of arrest for both cases,” he said.
Clavano said the assets of Teves, who has yet to return to the Philippines, have been frozen as a result of the former congressman’s designation as a terrorist by the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC).
“Nagfile naman po ng delisting request ang side nila former Cong. Teves and Henry Pryde, ‘yung kapatid n’ya, at ‘yung iba pa n’yang kasama sa designation (Teves and his brother, former Negros Oriental Gov. Henry Pryde Teves, and others have already filed before the ATC a request that they be delisted as terrorists),” Clavano said.
The ATC is expected to tackle the plea of Teves’ group next week, he said.
Prior the release of the resolution last Aug. 18 on the Degamo slaying, the DOJ panel of prosecutors chaired by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Mary Jane E. Sytat conducted a preliminary investigation on the complaints filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on May 17, 2023.
Aside from the former congressman Teves, the complaint named as respondents Angelo V. Palagtiw, Neil Andrew Go, Capt. Lloyd Cruz Garcia, Nigel Electona, and a person identified only with the alias sister of Angelo Palagtiw, Gee-Ann, Jie-An.
There were also cases filed against 11 other suspects -- Marvin H. Miranda, Rogelio C. Antipolo Jr., Winrich B. Isturis, Joven C. Javier, Romel A. Pattaguan, Eulogio L. Gonyon Jr., John Louie L. Gonyon, Jhudiel R. Rivero, Joric G. Labrador, Benjie Rodriguez, and Dhaniel P. Lora.
Clavano did not give details on the cases against the 11 suspects.
It was not known immediately if the cases against former congressman Teves has been raffled to a particular Manila RTC judge and whether the judge, to whom the cases are assigned, has determine probable cause that would warrant the issuance of arrest order.