DOJ appeals for patience on Teves, Bantag cases

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) yesterday appealed to the public for patience on the cases of former Negros Oriental congressman Arnolfo Teves Jr. and former corrections chief Gerald Bantag, saying efforts are being made to ensure that proper legal processes are followed.

Teves is facing murder charges over the killing of Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo and nine others last year and three more in 2019. He was arrested in Dili, East Timor last month.

Bantag, meanwhile, has been charged with murder in connection with the killing of broadcaster Percival Mabasa in 2022. He remains at large.

DOJ Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano said there is an international component to Teves’ cases, noting that the former lawmaker is now under the custody of the Timor-Leste police.

“However, we are awaiting the decision of the courts there as we have submitted already the request for extradition,” Clavano said.

“So, you know with these things, we just have to stay patient. We are dotting all the I’s, crossing all the T’s to make sure that we follow the right process, we afford the respondent due process so that there is nothing that can be attributed to the government saying that we did not… we took shortcuts and whatnot,” he said.

Clavano expressed hope that Teves would “muster the courage to finally face his charges in court” when he returns to the Philippines.

With regard to Bantag, Clavano said the manhunt for the former corrections chief continues.

“We have a general idea already of his whereabouts so it’s just a matter of time. Again, with these things, we just have to stay patient – these things don’t happen overnight,” the justice official said.

“The wheels of justice, they grind slowly but they grind very finely, so we just have to stay patient.”