CIDG files murder complaints vs Negros Oriental Rep. Teves over 2019 killings

The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) on Tuesday filed three murder complaints against Negros Oriental Representative Arnie Teves before the Department of Justice for allegedly masterminding killings in 2019.

GMA News Online had sought comment from Teves and his representatives over the CIDG complaints, but they have yet to reply as of posting time.

According to the CIDG's filing, three counts for violation of Article 248 of the Revised Penal Code were filed against Teves and five other respondents.

Meanwhile, the complainant’s legal counsel Atty. Levito Baligod said their witnesses were the alleged assassins themselves.

“Na inutusan sila mismo. They were summoned by, allegedly they were summoned by Congressman Teves, gave them the instructions to assassinate these victims at marami pa silang detalye na sinabi,” Baligod said in an ambush interview.

“So nung tinanong ko nga kung ano yung ginamit na baril, anong oras, ano ang damit nung victim, nasasagot nila. So I was convinced of the credibility of these witnesses. That’s why I helped the families file the complaint with the CIDG,” he added.

According to Baligod, the alleged assassination team — composed of three people — killed 12 individuals.

“Ang sinasabi ng mga ito ay dahil kalaban sa politika. Especially si dating board member Miguel Dungog. Sinasabi nila na nagkaroon kasi ng survey doon kung sino yung pwedeng lumaban kay Mr. Teves at lumabas ang pangalan ni Miguel Dungog na popular siya doon,” Baligod said.

Baligod said the supposed assassins also had regular jobs, with one of them allegedly having worked for Teves for 12 years.

“So empleyado sila but at the same time kung may ipapa trabaho sila, bibigyan sila ng pera. At binanggit naman nila kung sino yung nagbibigay ng pera sa kanila,” he said.

The legal counsel said that payments would vary, but they also mentioned being given P50,000 for operating expenses in one event.

“Iba iba po eh. Depende sa location, kung gaano kalayo yung target, pero doon sa isang binaggit nila binigyan sila ng P50,000 para sa operating expenses nila," Baligod said.

Meanwhile, asked why they came out only now, Baligod said they have been talking to the witnesses prior to the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.

Degamo served as Governor of Negros Oriental from January 5, 2011, but was initially unseated by a rival in the May 2022 elections.

However, his rival's proclamation as provincial governor was annulled, and Degamo's victory was upheld by the Supreme Court after the votes obtained by a nuisance candidate were credited in his favor.

Teves had denied that he and his brother Henry were involved in the Degamo killing. — DVM, GMA Integrated News