Teves slams order to 'intercept' him should he fly back to PH
Negros Oriental 3rd district Rep. Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr. (Screenshot from Facebook)
Negros Oriental 3rd district Rep. Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr. has assailed an alleged order coming from Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Norman Tansingco wherein the latter ordered his men to "intercept" the solon should he fly into the country. This alleged order, dated May 17, 2023, was the subject of Teves latest video message that was posted on his Facebook on Friday, May 19. The video was 75 seconds long. "Ito na lumabas na. ito pala ang totoong rason kung bakit nila ako gustong umuwi. May order ngayon na pag ako ay dumating ako ay i-intercept (It's finally out. So this is the real reason why they want me to return home. There's now an order for me to be intercepted if I arrive)," said Teves, who shared an encoded text of the order. "Lumabas itong order na to bago pa sila nag-file ng mga kaso laban sa akin. Ibig sabihin wala pa akong kaso may order na na-intercept ako (This order came out before they even filed charges against me. This means that there was already an order to intercept me before I had a case)," said the suspended congressman. "Ito ay halatang political persecution at pang-aabuso ng aking karapatang pantao (This is obviously political persecution and an abuse of my human rights)," he said. Teves, who is tagged as the mastermind of the March 4 assassination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, has been out of the country since Feb. 28. He has refused to come back home for fear of his life. Part of the text of the alleged BI order shared by Teves read as follows: "In view of the reported arrival into the country of Cong. Arnolfo Teves Jr. today, May 17, 2023, everyone is enjoined forthwith to be on high alert and vigilant to monitor such event, both in regular and special flights." "If encountered, please instantaneously intercept the subject, ask for assistance from other law enforcement authorities in the area for security, immediately inform the Commissioner for proper disposition and prepare incident report," it stated. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) charged Teves with murder Wednesday, May 17. Despite already having a case, Teves said, "Still I am innocent until proven guilty." Earlier this month, Teves sought political asylum in Timor-Leste, also a country in Southeast Asia. His request was denied.