Arnie Teves still in Southeast Asia, says Remulla

Former Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr. is still in southeast Asia being protected by local warlords, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla said on Wednesday.

“Under the ASEAN, we can actually ask them more upfront about what's happening in their country, especially if it's somebody who is a known terrorist being harbored by anybody,” Remulla said.

Remulla said the Department of Justice is also preparing a letter to the United Nations to call on  other countries to help bring Teves back to the Philippines for trial.

A Manila court recently issued a warrant of arrest against Teves and three other persons over the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.

Remulla has said that Teves was going back and forth between Timor-Leste—where he previously sought asylum—Cambodia, and Thailand.

The Anti-Terrorism Council has designated Teves and 12 others as terrorists, citing several alleged killings and harassment in Negros Oriental.

Aside from the murder of Degamo and others, the former lawmaker and others have also been charged with the deaths of three individuals in Negros Oriental in 2019.

The House of Representatives in mid-August voted to expel Teves for disorderly conduct and his continued absence despite an expired travel authority.

Degamo and five others were killed when armed men fired shots while the official was distributing aid at his residence in Pamplona, Negros Oriental on March 4.

Teves has denied that he and his brother Henry were involved in Degamo's killing.

“Kung may balak man ako o may kakayahan na gawin ito eh di sana ginawa ko na ito bago pa mag eleksyon. Anong motibo kung ngayon gagawin hindi ba? Kung mawala ang gobernadora ang uupo naman ang vice governor,” said the Congressman on Facebook.

(If we had the motive and the capability to do this, we should’ve done this before the election. Why would we do it now? If the governor dies, the vice-governor will take reign.) —Joviland Rita/NB, GMA Integrated News