(Photo from Mela Lesmoras/PTV)
Department of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla is considering Negros Oriental Third District Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. as one of the alleged masterminds in the assassination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.
Remulla said it is based on the statements of the surrendered suspects who are currently in the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation.
“They can be contacted, I think. There is always the social media, nariyan naman sa social media dyan. Meron nga, ‘yung isa parang nag-text sakin,” Remulla said.
“Congressman Teves texted me, they’re being considered as the mastermind, but I don’t know yet how to get it to the panel of prosecutors,” he added. “But right now, there is [progress], that’s the direction we’re heading into.”
Remulla said the suspects stated they have a safehouse where they manufacture improvised explosive devices (IEDs) similar to the confiscated IEDs from Teves’ safehouse.
“The IEDs that were found [are] consistent with the statement made by one those who came later, already in early March, that when he came in, he saw somebody preparing IEDs, nakita niyang may ginagawa-gawang IEDs,” Remulla said. “Very consistent with the statement made by one of the suspects who came later.”
“That person said that when he was walking through the safehouse there was somebody in one room making IEDs. Sinabi yun,” he continued. “No mention of names but the ownership of the safehouse is the one that is important there and I believe it is important there and I believe it jiw owned and controlled by the Teveses.”
Remulla said Pryde Henry Teves will face a preliminary investigation for illegal possession of firearms and explosives because he was one of the owners of the sugar mill that was seized with IEDs.
The younger Teves is currently considered a person of interest and not a suspect in the Degamo slaying case.
Aside from Teves, the DOJ claims there are two or three masterminds behind Degamo’s murder.
Remulla said authorities are still searching for additional alleged conspirators in the assassination of Degamo, as the investigation is slowly developing.
“Basically solution is there already. Basically we know already what happened, alam na natin ‘yung nangyari,” he added.
“It’s just a matter of capturing more people, filing case against more people, pero may mga suspects pa tayong di pa nahuhuli na kasama sa conspiracy, [because] right now, we considered this a conspiracy to murder Governor Degamo,” he continued.
According to the DOJ, the surrendered suspects will be charged on Friday. –KC/Report from Louisa Erispe – gb
