Suspended Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. on Saturday alleged that the federal government was making a “trophy” out of him by tagging him because the mastermind behind the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.
“Feeling ko, ginagawa nila kaming, other than business interest, ginagawa nila kaming trophy. Pareho kami ni [former Bureau of Corrections chief Gerald] Bantag. Na gusto na nilang kumita, gusto pa nilang sumikat,” Teves mentioned in a media briefing.
(I really feel that aside from business pursuits, they’re making a trophy out of us. Both I and Bantag are in the identical scenario. They not solely wish to revenue, however additionally they wish to grow to be well-known.)
However, responding to Teves’ and his representatives’ feedback, Justice Department Spokesperson Mico Clavano informed GMA News Online, “We are and will always be evidence-based.”
Teves earlier accused authorities of raiding one other of his properties, this time a poultry farm.
“This is really persecution already. Sobra na ito, hindi na ito dapat. Mali na talaga. Sobra na ang pang-aapak sa karapatang pantao,” Teves mentioned.
(This is an excessive amount of, that is improper. This is incorrect. They’ve utterly disregarded human rights.)
But in line with a report on “24 Oras”, the PNP Joint Task Force, the AFP, the CIDG, and the NBI have denied conducting a raid on Teves’ property.
As to what the federal government would acquire from his prosecution, Teves mentioned it was a “show of force.”
“Hindi naman sa pagmamayabang, might pangalan na rin tayo. Eh ‘di magmumukha silang malakas, na napatumba nila ‘yung isang tao na… siyempre meron din naman tayong standing sa publiko, maraming followers, kilala rin tayo nang kaunti,” he said.
(Not to brag, but I have a name. They will appear to be strong after they knock down someone who is… of course, I also have standing in the public, with many followers, and a bit well-known.)
Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, Teves’ lawyer, in the meantime mentioned that assuming authorities had enough proof that the lawmaker illegally possessed firearms and explosives, it didn’t comply with that he must be declared a terrorist.
Topacio burdened that the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 was made to deal with Islamic fundamentalism throughout the Marawi siege and the armed communist insurgency.
“If you weaponize the law for a purpose of which it was not enacted, para mong sinampal sa mukha ‘yung Kongreso, para mong sinampal sa mukha ang justice system natin (It seemed you slapped the Congress and the justice system in its face). Distortion, perversion ‘yan ng batas (That is distortion and perversion of the law),” Topacio mentioned. — DVM, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
