MURDER CASE | Court issues e-warrant for arrest of Teves, others in Degamo slay

September 6, 2023 , 11:02 AM

By Beatrice Puente

(September 6, 2023) – A Manila court on Tuesday ordered the arrest of expelled Negros Oriental representative Arnolfo Teves Jr. and several others in connection to the killing of Gov. Roel Degamo and nine other individuals last March.

In a four-page order, the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 51 sought the issuance of an e-warrant of arrest against Teves, Angelo Palagtiw and his sister, and Capt. Lloyd Cruz Garcia II.

“After a personal evaluation of the amended information attached, together with the resolutions and attached documents in support thereof, the Court finds probable cause for the issuance of a warrant of arrest against the accused,” read the order by Judge Merianthe Pacita Zuraek.

Zuraek also issued a commitment order against former police officer Nigel Electona, who’s currently detained at the Manila City Jail.

“The court orders the transfer of the said accused from the custody of the Manila City Jail to the Metro Manila District Jail Annex 2, BJMP (Bureau of Jail Management and Penology) Compound, Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan, Taguig City,” added the order.

The court set the arraignment and pre-trial conference on October 4.

Before the e-warrant of arrest was issued, Department of Justice (DOJ) secretary Boying Remulla was confident that the prosecution has a strong case against Teves, who he said is probably moving around Timor Leste, Cambodia, and Thailand to evade his murder charges.

Teves previously sought but failed to seek political asylum in Timor Leste.

“We will have the right to inform the United Nations (UN) that the designated terrorist now has murder cases and should stand trial in our country. We are asking them to ask UN member-states to acknowledge their duty of rendition to bring Mr. Teves to the Philippines for trial,” said Remulla.

Teves is tagged as the mastermind behind the killing of Degamo and his nine companions last March.

Last month, Teves and a dozen other individuals were designated as “terrorists” by the Anti-Terrorism Council.

He was kicked out of the House of Representatives for indecent conduct that tarnished the reputation of the lower chamber. His camp took a swipe at the ethics panel for what they described as “unfair proceedings” against Teves, who was already suspended twice before his expulsion, stressing that they will fight the decision.

Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo, the widow of the slain governor, welcomed the court’s move as an important step in achieving justice.

“Ito ‘yung pinakahihintay namin talaga. Sa pagkakataong ito, parang another small step toward victory and justice. Talagang this is now the challenge, kung paano siya kukunin at paano siya papanagutin sa sala na ginawa niya sa mga pamilya namin,” said Degamo.

Teves has vehemently denied any involvement in Degamo’s death. He’s also being tagged in other killings recorded in their province over the past years but he also denied the allegations.

(PM)

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