Arnie Teves' brother Pryde arrested over terrorism financing charges

The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) on Thursday arrested former Negros Oriental Governor Pryde Henry Teves over terrorism financing charges.

In a statement, the PNP said it arrested Teves at 8:15 a.m. in Barangay Taclobo, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental.

"The accused was informed of the offense committed, and his constitutional rights in the dialect known and understood by him, as provided for under the law," it said.

According to the PNP, Teves was tagged as a “most wanted person in Provincial Level No. 1 and Regional Level No. 1.”

He was arrested based on the arrest warrant issued by the Cebu City Regional Trial Court Branch 74 over charges for the alleged violation of The Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012.

The bail was set at P200,000 for his temporary liberty.

GMA News Online has sought comment from the Teves camp and the Department of Justice but has yet to receive a response as of posting time.

Teves was designated as a terrorist by the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) in August 2023 along with his brother and 11 others.

The ATC said their violations include committing terrorism; planning, training, preparing and facilitating the commission of terrorism; recruitment to and membership in a terrorist organization; and providing material support to terrorists.

Teves is the brother of former Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr., the alleged mastermind in the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and others at the home of the then-governor on March 4, 2023.

Before he was designated as a terrorist, Teves submitted a waiver of confidentiality to the DOJ. In his waiver, Pryde Henry waived his rights over his secrecy of bank deposits and communication logs.

Arnie Teves, for his part, denied the accusation, saying that he was out of the country at the time of the attack. However, he has never returned to the Philippines after going abroad.

The former lawmaker is currently awaiting the results of his extradition trial in Timor-Leste, which concluded last week.

According to Justice Undersecretary Jesse Andres, Arnie Teves is also included in the terrorism financing charges against his brother.

“The terrorism financing charges, I think, involve both Henry Pryde and former Congressman Arnie Teves. Because they have been facing terrorism charges and there is sufficient evidence that certain assets or resources… are being utilized,” he said in an ambush interview.

Meanwhile, in a separate statement, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said that the arrest demonstrates the government’s commitment to fighting terrorism and upholding the law. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News