Teves lawyers hit DOJ over release of information

CEBU, Philippines — The lawyers of Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo Teves and other personalities arrested in connection with the murder of Governor Roel Degamo has criticized the Department of Justice (DOJ) over what they described as a striptease way of releasing information about the case to the public.

Led by Teves' lead counsel, Ferdinand Topacio, they wondered why Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla held back in giving more details about the supposed main player in the deadly attack that killed Degamo and eight other people.

Remulla on Friday announced that the Degamo case is 99 percent solved, noting the arrest of a primary suspect in the murder. However, he declined to give other details and told journalists to wait until Monday for further announcements.

This did not sit well with Topacio, saying the investigation into the case has turned into a witch hunt.

“Ano ba sinabi nung tao then sasabihin Monday pa nila iaannounce. Do they need a weekend to work on this guy,” he said during Kamuning Bakery Pandesal Forum yesterday.

If they really have the goods against Teves, Topacio said Remulla should have immediately released the information they have in public.

“Parang striptease eh, pira-pirasong damit ang hinuhubad. Bakit parang burlesk,” he said

Based on the information they received, Topacio said the main player Remulla was referring to is Marvin Miranda.

Sources said Miranda was a middleman between the masterminds and the gunmen.

Topacio also disputed Remulla's assertion that the case is almost solved, stressing the justice secretary should only make a conclusion only when there is a conviction.

Topacio said Teves has made several requests which he relayed to House Speaker Martin Romualdez. He did not go into details but explained it has something to do with the safety of his client.

“Si congressman made certain requests for his return in order to ensure his safety,” he said.

Topacio said Romualdez granted some of the requests but rejected the others.

“Hindi naman niya kami binola. Sinabi niya itong mga request na ito, puwede nating gawin. Itong mga request na ito ay hindi puwede,” Topacio said.

As not all his requests were granted, Topacio said Teves will still not return to the country.

Topacio sid they are mulling legal actions against the police, specifically operatives of the CIDG, for committing human rights abuses and such as psychological torture.

“There will be a time under the rules of procedure,” he said.

Lawyer Rose Erames said CIDG operatives were harassing people working at the sugar mill corporation where Teves' brother, former provincial governor Pryde Henry Teves, is the president.

She said a relative of Nigel Electona, one of the suspects in government custody, was harassed by a police officer.

“Sabi dudurugin namin si Arnie Teves. Eh kung matino kang pulis, hindi ka naman siguro magsasalita ng ganun,” he said.

Topacio also demanded the CIDG to return the P18 million taken from the sugar mill as these were not part of the search warrant.

However, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said the money is intact at the sugar mill. (FREEMAN)