Arnie Teves among those being considered mastermind in Degamo slay —Remulla

Suspended Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr. is among those being considered as mastermind in the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Monday.

In an ambush interview, Remulla said it is possible that there are two to three masterminds in the killing, and that "[t]hey can be contacted."

"They can be contacted, I think. There’s always social media. Meron namang social media diyan. Meron nga yung isa parang nag-text sa akin (In fact, one of them texted me). I told you about it last week. Congressman Teves texted me," Remulla said when asked if the supposed masterminds are within reach by investigators.

"I think they're considered — they're being considered as masterminds, but I don't know yet," he added.

"I have to get into the panel of prosecutors. But right now, the way it is progressing, that's the direction we're heading."

Degamo and eight others were killed while several others were injured after an attack at the governor's home in Negros Oriental on March 4 while he was distributing aid to his constituents.

Last week, Remulla said Teves, who is out of the country, has reached out to him through a text message. He said he did not respond to the text as he received the message after finding out that four more suspects in the killing of Degamo have surrendered.

'Nebulous'

Sought for comment, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, Teves' legal counsel, called Remulla's statement "nebulous."

"Actually, Sec. Remulla did not say anything new. Also, the statement itself is quite nebulous. I'll comment when there is something coherent to comment on," he told GMA News Online in a message.

In an ambush interview, Topacio said the secretary’s announcement is “anti-climactic.”

“So we are not surprised. Para sa amin, 'wag nang maggawa ng mga ano, mga pasaring na may illegal gambling, ha, kung hindi mapro-prove, may ganito, may ganon, may illegal activity,” Topacio said.

(For us, don't make any more allegations such as illegal gambling if they cannot prove that there is illegal activity.)

“File the case para tapos na, so we can defend ourselves. Kasi sa ganito we cannot defend ourselves eh,” he added.

(File the case so it is done and so we can defend ourselves. [Without a case filed yet], we cannot defend ourselves.)

He said officials should not speak if they are not yet sure.

“Kasi may mga statements na, 'I think', 'I’m not sure', 'it’s possible'. Complete the case buildup and please file it para marinig na po sa— ng prosecutor,” he said.

(There are statements saying 'I think', 'I'm not sure', 'it's possible.' Complete the case buildup and please file it so that it can be heard at the prosecutor's office.)

Topacio said they are also alarmed over the remarks made by Remulla, saying he hoped he would avoid naming Teves.

“Siyempre ang hepe ng lahat ng prosecutors ay ang Secretary of Justice. Kapag naririnig nilang may mga ganyan na mga references na mga oblique ay baka maisip nila subconsiously ay hindi na kami puwede magkaroon ng finding na walang kinalaman dito sa Degamo murder kasi mapapahiya ‘yung aming secretary,” Topacio said.

(The chief of all prosecutors is the Secretary of Justice. When they hear oblique references like that, they may subconsciously think that they cannot come up with a finding that it is not related to the Degamo murder because it will put the secretary in a bad light.)

“So sana magsalita na lang kung meron nang case in Court. Kung may ifa-file nga. During the course of the preliminary investigation, the DOJ should not lose its image of impartiality and lack of prejudice,” he added.

(So hopefully they can just give statements when there is a case in Court, if they will really file one.)

He also raised the alarm over the cash supposedly retrieved during the raid on a compound allegedly owned by former Negros Oriental governor Pryde Henry Teves.

“Meron daw perang nakuha. ‘Yun pera pong ‘yun wala po sa search warrant. Hindi din po nag-aapply ‘yung plain sight doctrine because the plain sight doctrine says that kahit wala sa warrant kung may makikita kang contraband puwede mo i-seize,” Topacio said.

(There was some cash allegedly recovered. That money is not part of the search warrant. The plain sight doctrine does not apply because the plain sight doctrine says that even if an item is not covered by the warrant, if it is contraband, you may seize it.)

“Kailan naging contraband ang pera? Kailan naging illegal na meron kang pera? At bakit kino-condone ng Department of the Interior and Local Government and pagkuha?” he added.

(Since when has money been considered contraband? Since when has having money become illegal? And why does the Department of the Interior and Local Government condone the seizing [of the cash]?)

In a previous interview, Topacio said there is no direct evidence linking Teves to the killing of Degamo.

Teves, who refuses to return to the country due to fears for his safety,  earlier denied involvement in the killing of Degamo. He also appealed for authorities' "fairness" and for investigators to look at all angles in Degamo's killing.

Topacio earlier said Teves is ready to face the allegations of murder against him.

Arrested suspects in the killing have earlier pointed to a certain "Cong Teves" as the one who allegedly ordered the hit on Degamo.

IEDs

According to Remulla, the items seized during the course of the investigation, among them improvised explosive devices (IEDs), collaborated with testimonies of the suspects in the Degamo killing.

"The IEDs that were found is consistent with the statement made by one of those who came later, already in early March, that when he came in, he saw somebody preparing IEDs," he said.

"Very consistent with the statement made by one of the suspects who came later," Remulla added.

When asked if the suspects mentioned the Teves brothers when they talked about the IEDs, Remulla said there was no mention of names.

However, he said he believes the safehouse the suspects stayed in was owned and controlled by the Teves family.

"No mention of names but the ownership of the safehouse is the one that is important there and I believe it is owned and controlled by the Teveses," he said.

The Justice secretary said Teves' brother, former Negros Oriental Governor Pryde Henry Teves, may also be implicated in the crime.

"It’s possible," he said. "We will look at all the facts in the best way possible so we can see the participation of people."

In a message to reporters, Pryde Henry said he already reached out to Remulla.

"That should I be needed to answer some questions, I will be there to shed more light and cooperate. I am just here. I will definitely be transparent even on my phone logs, emails, bank transactions, whereabouts, people I have health or talked with the past months," he said.

Remulla said the DOJ is eyeing to file charges against the 10 arrested suspects in the killing by Friday.  —KBK/KG, GMA Integrated News