The Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) has designated suspended Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. and 12 others as terrorists, citing a number of alleged killings and harassment in Negros Oriental.
Approved on July 26, ATC’s Resolution Number 43 tagged as terrorists the next people who allegedly violated some provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act:
- Congressman Arnolfo “Arnie” Alipit Teves, Jr.
- Pryde Henry A. Teves
- Marvin H. Miranda
- Rogelio C. Antipolo
- Rommel Pattaguan
- Winrich B. Isturis
- John Louie Gonyon
- Daniel Lora
- Eulogio Gonyon Jr.
- Tomasino Aledro
- Nigel Electona
- Jomarie Catubay
- Hannah Mae Sumero Oray
GMA News Online has reached out to Arnie Teves and his authorized counsel however has but to obtain their replies.
Violations
The Council mentioned their violations embrace committing terrorism; planning, coaching, getting ready and facilitating the fee of terrorism; recruitment to and membership in a terrorist group; and offering materials help to terrorists.
Arnie was tagged because the mastermind behind the assault on the late Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo on March 4. Degamo and eight others have been killed whereas a number of others have been injured within the assault. The dying toll later climbed to 10.
“Prior to the assassination of Gov. Degamo, numerous politically and economically motivated killings were attributed to Cong. Teves, Jr. and his armed group of followers/supporters,” the ATC mentioned.
“However, notwithstanding these numerous killings, the relatives of these victims have remained silent and did not file any criminal complaint against Cong. Teves, Jr. and his group of armed men because of the existing atmosphere of fear and threat prevailing in the province,” it added.
For the ATC, the quite a few killings and harassments in Negros Oriental which culminated within the assassination of Degamo shouldn’t be thought-about as remoted and random incidents of violence.
“A closer evaluation of these killings and harassments shows an unmistakable pattern of a rather organized and orchestrated action. These killings and harassments are meticulously and deliberately planned and executed for the purpose of intimidating the residents of Negros Oriental as well as to create an atmosphere or spread a message of fear,” it mentioned.
“These acts are also designed to influence by intimidation the local population and government of Negros Oriental to seriously undermine public safety and to ensure that Cong. Teves, Jr. and his group could continue and expand their reign of terror in the guise of political leadership,” it added. —KG, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
