Raps filed vs Teves over Degamo assassination

CEBU, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Wednesday filed criminal complaints against suspended Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. (Negros Oriental) over the brazen assassination of Governor Roel Degamo that also left nine others dead and more than a dozen injured.

NBI director Medardo de Lemos and other agency officials filed the case before the Department of Justice.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said that Teves was charged with multiple murder, multiple frustrated murder and multiple attempted murder. A prosecution panel was convened yesterday to receive the complaint.

With the complaint now filed, Teves will be given an opportunity to file his counter-affidavit. But Remulla stressed that this cannot be filed while he is not in the country. Teves, who has been refusing to come back to Manila, also cannot subscribe before Philippine embassies abroad, the justice secretary said.

"He has to come home or they will file the case in court and the warrant will be issued in absentia," Remulla said.

Earlier, Teves was also charged with multiple murder over a spate of killings in Negros Oriental in 2019 and illegal possession of firearms and explosives. Process to designate him as a terrorist has also started.

Remulla had long named Teves as the alleged mastermind behind the killing of Degamo but he stressed that investigators were being thorough in their case-building.

The filing, which came more than two months since the incident, was also delayed by two days after witness-suspects under government custody clammed up and refused to cooperate with authorities.

Remulla said the suspects “lawyered up” after initially being represented by the Public Attorney's Office. The justice secretary stressed that investigators already secured testimonies significant to the case before the suspects stopped cooperating.

Teves has yet to return to Manila despite criminal allegations against him and a warning of further disciplinary action for his continued absence at the House of Representatives. — Philstar.com  (FREEMAN)