Rep. Teves links Abalos to plans to raid his house, plant evidence

Representative Arnolfo Teves Jr. of Negros Oriental on Thursday linked Secretary Benhur Abalos of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to efforts to secure a search warrant on his residence and plant evidence against him.

“Pinepersonal ako ni Benhur Abalos. I got information that he ordered some agency to secure a search warrant so that they can raid my house at kung walang makuha, lagyan ng kahit ano para lang magkakaso ako or makulong kami,” he said.

(He is making it personal and wants to plant evidence against me to build up a case and send me to jail.)

“Frustrated sila kasi ako pa rin ang pinagbibintangan nila sa e-sabong. Wala akong kinalaman sa e-sabong. Sinuyod na nila buong Region 7, walang nakita. [Kaya] huwag na huwag niyo gagalawin ang bahay ko dahil alam ng taumbayan na foul play ‘yan. Huwag niyo galawin mga anak ko dahil alam ng taumbayan na foul ‘yun,” Teves added.

(They are frustrated because they are linking me to e-sabong. I have nothing to do with it. They swept Region 7 and found nothing. They should keep their hands off my home, my children, because the public knows that's foul.)

Teves also said that call for courtesy resignation in the name of cleansing already condemns senior police officials without due process.

“Walang kalaban-laban ang mga pulis. Kapag hindi ka nag-resign, insubordination ka. Kapag nag-resign ka naman, parang may kasalanan ka na agad,” Teves said.

(The police officials have no choice. If you don't resign, that is insubordination. If you resign, it is like you already did something wrong.)

“If the boss is the one making an appeal to his subordinates, that is not an appeal. It is an order,” he added.

Teves said that his information is credible since it was given to him by people whom he has helped in the past.

“I was not born yesterday, and there are people whom I was able to help in the past who leaked me the information. That is why I am 100 percent sure of the information given to me,” the lawmaker added when asked what makes him sure of the credibility of the information he got.

Teves says anyone who advocates for a shortcut in the processes of ridding an agency of scalawags is unfit to occupy a government post.

“Nangshoshortcut ka. I don't think anybody is fit to sit in any government position if you do not follow due process,” Teves said.

GMA News Online has reached out to Abalos and will publish his reply as soon as it becomes available.—LDF, GMA Integrated News