The Department of Justice (DOJ) will seek the designation and proscription of suspended Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo “Arnie” A. Teves Jr. as a “terrorist,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla said on Monday, April 17. The revelation on the DOJ’s plan on Teves was disclosed by Remulla during the hearing by the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs on the killings in Negros Oriental, particularly the slaying of Gov. Roel R. Degamo last March 4. Remulla amplified the DOJ’s plan in an interview with journalists covering the DOJ. The designation and proscription of Teves will be in accord with Sections 4, 26, and 27 of Republic Act No. 11479, the Anti-Terrorism Act, he said. “We are just making the law our ally here. Our law is our ally in our pursuit of justice for those who are murdered on March 4 in Pamplona called the Pamplona massacre,” he added. Teves has been tagged as the “mastermind” in the killings of Degamo and eight other persons, and the injuries sustained by 18 others during a broad daylight attack in Pamplona town. The suspended legislator is still abroad despite the lapse of his official travel last March 9.  He is suspected to be in Cambodia or South Korea. “Designation is done by the Anti-Terror Council. Proscription is done through the Court of Appeals (CA) by filing a case,” Remulla, who is also a member of the Anti-Terror Council (ATC), said. Once the ATC makes the designation, Remulla said the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) can be tapped to freeze the assets. If the CA grants the proscription, Remulla said “it will already have an international effect.” “We just have to notify the UN  (United Nations) about the proscription and then automatically things fall into place. And there is what we call rendition among nations where they can catch for you the terrorists,” he said. Even if the violence being attributed to Teves only took place in Negros Oriental, Remulla stressed: “Terrorism pa rin ‘yan (it’s still terrorism).” “When you create fear among the people, you plot to kill somebody that is already part of the definition of terrorism,” he pointed out. He assured that due process will be observed and Teves will be informed about the proceedings for designation and proscription. “Due process is the most important thing. We are respecting the rights of the people,” he said. However, Remulla stressed that the designation and proscription of Teves as “terrorist” will be sought once criminal charges are filed against him before the court. “This will help us build our case itself before the ATC when the charges are in court already. Proscription also. Judicial notice is easier when it is in court already,” he explained. Meanwhile, lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, the legal counsel of Teves, expressed dismay that the legislator was not given the opportunity to be heard via video conferencing during the Senate hearing. ‘Yun nga po ang ikinalulungkot namin kasi sabi ko nga kung hearing ‘yan dapat both sides should be heard (We are saddened about that because if it is a hearing then both sides should be heard),” Topacio pointed out. Topacio said Teves also wants to present the families of two murder victims who claimed that late governor Degamo was involved in their deaths. “Gusto din nila lumahok via zoom hindi rin po sila pinahintulutan (They too wanted to join the hearing via video conferencing using the Zoom application but they were not allowed),” he lamented. “So ang mangyayari one sided po ‘yung hearing (The hearing has become one sided),” said Topacio who noted that the only persons who were allowed to be heard were from the side of Degamo. In reponse, Remulla said: “If you want to attend a Senate hearing you should be within its jurisdiction.” “You should be able to swear by its rules and obey its order. If you are not within the jurisdiction of the Senate and you did a contemptuous act then you will make a mockery of the process. So, it’s the Senate’s rules that we follow in a Senate proceeding,” he said.