Teves says he'll come home 'when it is safe enough'

Suspended Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. on Thursday said he will return to the Philippines once it is safe enough.

The congressman, who has been tagged as the alleged mastermind behind the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and eight others, have yet to return to the country due to concerns about his safety.

“When— when it is safe enough,” Teves told Balitanghali when asked on the matter.

“Eh, ngayon mas lalo akong kinakabahan dahil meron na naman akong info na sa mata pala ng karamihan— ng ano diyan, guilty na pala ako. So hindi dapat ganoon,” he added.

(I’m now more nervous because I received info that for many there, I am already guilty. It should not be like that.)

Asked how will he determine if it is safe enough, Teves said, “kung fair ‘yung trial (when the trial is fair).”

He said the justice system in the country is not fair, citing the acquittal of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla’s son, Juanito Remulla III, of illegal drug possession charges.

“When I say hindi fair ‘yung justice system, 'di ba naalala ninyo anak ni Boying Remulla ang bilis bilis napawalang sala. Wala man lang tayong nakitang mugshot, news blackout pa, sabay biglang wala nang sala,” he said.

(When I say the justice system is not fair, remember the son of Boying Remulla who was acquitted of charges. There was no mugshot, there was even a news blackout, then he was suddenly cleared of the charges.)

“Parang niloloko natin 'yung tao. 'Yung halatang may sala, walang sala kaagad. ‘Yung wala pang ebidensya may sala na kaagad. Mali 'di ba,” he later added.

(It seems we are fooling the people. Those who are guilty have been cleared of charges. Meanwhile, they consider people as guilty eventhough they have no proof yet. It's wrong.)

In a separate televised interview, Teves cried foul how several other cases against him were being renewed.

“Tanong ko ngayon, bakit hindi nila i-review ang kaso sa anak ni Boying Remulla? Na sandaling sandali lang, wala man lang mugshot, news blackout pa sabay biglang napawalang sala. Hindi ko nakikita ang fairness doon. That’s unfair to the Filipino people,” he said in an ANC interview.

(Now, my question is why don't they review the case against Boying Remulla's son? It had a speedy turnout, . He was suddenly acquitted. I don't see the fairness in that. That's unfair to the Filipino people.)

Sought for comment, Remulla said he has "no reaction" even as he insisted that flight is an indication of guilt.

“No reaction. Mga taong may tinatago ayaw humarap. Flight is an indication of guilt kahit magbasa kayo ng commentary sa Codal, kahit i-Google n'yo 'yung statement na 'yon malalaman ninyo,” the DOJ chief said.

(I have no reaction. There are people who refuse to face the music. Flight is an indication of guilt, you can read that in the commentaries on codal, you can search that on Google.)

Teves also said he might consider going back to the Philippines if he sees a sense of fairness in the investigation.

“‘Pag nakita ko na may fairness, there is a sense of fairness, baka umuwi na ko. I might consider it. What will show me a sign of fairness? Ang dami nilang pinaparenew na kaso na ang tagal na,” he said.

(When I see that there is a sense of fairness, I might go home. I might consider it. What will show me a sign of fairness? They have been renewing many cases that were over a long time ago.)

He also said that he could no longer count how many days he has been out of the country.

In March, the House of Representatives served Teves with a 60-day suspension order over his continued absence in congressional proceedings despite an expired travel authority.

The congressman stressed that he does not want to go home as he received information that two high-ranking government officials, which he refused to name, want to get him killed.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has promised the safety of Teves once he decides to return to the Philippines.

E-sabong, STL

Teves, who admitted to operating e-sabong before, said the reason the two government officials wish him dead had to do with the e-sabong operations in Negros Oriental.

“Itong mga opisyal na ito, nagtayo sila ng negosyo sa e-sabong, eh hindi naman nag-succeed. Ngayon parang ako pa sinisisi nila na nago-operate ako kaya galit na galit sila sa’kin,” he said.

(These officials set up an e-sabong business, but it didn't succeed. Now they seem to blame me for operating one before, so they are very angry with me.)

Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo on Tuesday alleged that Arnie Teves and his brother, Pryde Henry, are sourcing their money from illegal online cockfighting and Small Town Lottery (STL) operations.

Henry Teves denied the allegations, saying he already submitted a bank secrecy waiver which will allow authorities to check on his assets.

Arnie Teves, meanwhile, said he did not own an e-sabong franchise or an STL as a public official.

As to operating the online cockfighting in the province, Arnie Teves said that it was not gambling as it was not illegal.

“Hindi naman lahat ng e-sabong, gambling. ‘Pag may pera, may gambling ‘yun. ‘Yung e-sabong na ‘to credits, hindi naman pera ‘yun eh… ‘Yung sinusubukan pa namin, hindi gambling dahil credits credits lang,” he said.

(Not all e-sabong activities are gambling. When there is money, there is gambling. The e-sabong we tested was using credits, not money.)

“Very fair” probe

Senator Ronald dela Rosa, chairman of the Senate public order and dangerous drugs committee, maintained that the investigation has been “very fair” as they entertained all the resource persons provided by Degamo and Teves camps.

He cited as an example the accusations made by the widow of slain broadcaster Rex Cornelio, who accused Mayor Degamo and the slain governor of killing her husband.

Apart from this, Dela Rosa said they even cited in contempt two policemen who were “lying through their teeth” during the Senate investigation.

“I don’t care kung ‘yung resource person ay tatamaan ang mga Teves. I don’t care kung ang sasabihin ng resource person ay tatamaan ang mga Degamo. Wala po akong pakialam. Ang gusto ko lang po 'yung truth and justice at public order sa Negros Oriental ay makamit,” Dela Rosa said during the same ANC interview.

(I don’t care if the resource persons will accuse the Teves camp or the Degamo camp. I really don’t care. What matters is the truth and justice as well as the public order in Negros Oriental.)

 “I respect his (Arnie Teves) opinion. Kung ang opinyon niya ay nagiging unfair ang sitwasyon, then talagang unfair kung sasabihin niyang unfair (If he thinks the situation was unfair, if he says it's unfair then it's unfair) but whatever. We are doing our best to make this hearing  very fair,” he said.—Giselle Ombay and Joahna Lei Casilao/AOL, GMA Integrated News