The deportation of former Negros Oriental Third District Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. will be good opportunity for the Philippines to fix its tarnished image in the international community, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said. 

Gatchalian noted that what the expelled lawmaker allegedly did affected the entire country because it happened in broad daylight. 

Teves was charged of multiple counts of murder and frustrated murder under the Revised Penal Code in connection with the killing of Governor Roel Degamo in 2023. 

The killing, which took place in Pamplona, Negros Oriental, became known as the “Pamplona massacre” as nine other personalities were killed when the mass shooting and assassination happened.

“Maganda yan para sa atin dahil makakamit natin ng hustisya, especially sa Degamo family, yung naging victim nitong karumal-dumal na pagpatay (That's good for us because we can achieve justice, especially for the Degamo family, who were the victims of this heinous murder),” Gatchalian said in an interview with reporters. 

“Admittedly, yung ginawa ni former Congressman Teves, buong bansa apektado dito dahil unang-una ginawa ito in broad daylight. Pinasok yung bahay at incumbent governor ito. Maraming na-shock at nagulat sa ginawa niya (What former Congressman Teves did, the entire country was affected by it because it was done in broad daylight. He broke into the house of the incumbent governor),” he pointed out. 

“Maraming na-shock at nagulat sa ginawa niya. At nadungisan din yung ating international image, lalo ng Negros Oriental dahil andyan yung isa sa pinakamagandang diving spot sa buong mundo (Many were shocked and surprised by what he did. And our international image was also tarnished, especially that of Negros Oriental because it is home to one of the best diving spots in the world),” he added.

“At dahil nga sa pangyayari, naapektuhan yung ating reputasyon (And because of the incident, our reputation was affected),” he lamented.

The senator said Teves’ return to the Philippines is a welcome development as this would be an opportunity for justice to be achieved.

“At dito natin makikita yung (and here we witness the) international cooperation. Importante rin yan dahil ang criminality ngayon, hindi lang sa Pilipinas, lumalabas (That’s also important as criminality nowadays, happen not only in the Philippines but also outside),” he said. 

“Katulad ng POGO (Philippine offshore gaming operators), pumupunta sa ibang bansa, katulad nito, pwede magtago sa ibang bansa. So importante yung relasyon natin sa ibang mga bansa (Just like POGOs, they go to other countries, and like in this case, they can hide in other contries, that’s why it’s important to maintain relations with other countries,” Gatchalian added. 

Sen. Joel Villanueva also welcomed this development “as a step forward in the pursuit of justice.”

“It will provide former Negros Oriental Rep. Arnie Teves the opportunity to face the charges against him, while also giving the Degamo family a chance to continue their search for justice,” Villanueva said. 

Villanueva also said he is in solidarity with the Degamo family and all other affected families in finally achieving closure in the brutal killing of the former governor and all the other victims.