Three more arrested and detained suspects have recanted their purported testimonies that admitted their participation and implicated Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo “Arnie” A. Teves Jr. in the killings of Gov. Roel R. Degamo and nine others on March 4, 2023 in Pamplona town. Lawyer Danny Villanueva who represents four suspects said on Tuesday, May 23, in an interview on CNN Philippines that his clients have executed their affidavits of recantation. Villanueva said he represents suspects Jhudiel R. Rivero, Dahniel P. Lora, Romel A. Pattaguan and Rogelio C. Antipolo Jr. “All these four have executed their respective affidavit of recantations and, on the part of Mr. Rivero, yesterday he submitted his kontra-salaysay or counter-affidavit to the Department of Justice (DOJ),” Villanueva said. He, however, declined to give copies of the affidavits of recantations pending submission to the DOJ. In the case of Rivero, his counter-affidavit submitted to the DOJ, in effect, contained a recantation of his supposed affidavit that admitted his participation in the Pamplona killings and the implication of Teves in the incident. In his affidavit, Rivero said he was forced by the police to executive an affidavit and implicate Teves. Villanueva said the affidavits of recantations were supposed to be attached to the counter-affidavit of Rivero. “However, the panel of state prosecutors required us to submit the sworn statements executed by the PNP (Philippine National Police) of Negros Oriental as well as those allegedly executed by our clients before the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation),” he lamented. During the preliminary investigation held Monday, May 22, Villanueva recalled that he argued that it should be the panel which should provide the copies of the sworn statements since these are being used against his four clients. Explaining Rivero’s affidavit of recantation, Villanueva said: “Hindi po natin masasabing bumaliktad ang aming kliyente o si Ginoong Rivero sapagkat dapat po nating maunawaan na ‘yung binabanggit na pag-amin niya na siya daw ay kasama doon sa grupo ay hindi po galing sa kanya ‘yon (It is not true that he changed his statements because his admission that he was part of the group did not come from him). “Hindi rin po totoo na may dinadawit siyang marami pang tao na kasama raw doon sa ginawang pagpasok sa compound ng mga Degamo at kasama na nga diyan si Ginoong Teves (It is not true that he is linking other people in the crime including Mr. Teves),” he added. The NBI has filed before the DOJ 10 murder, 14 frustrated murder, and four attempted murder complaints against Teves.  The DOJ has not acted on the complaints. Teves, who opted to stay abroad despite the expiration of his official travel last March 9 on “security reasons,” has denied the allegations against him.