The lawyer of Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. on Friday dismissed claims by arrested suspects {that a} sure “Cong Teves” was behind the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.
“Hearsay po ito. Wala pong nagsasabing nakausap nila si Congressman Teves at ito po ay nag-utos na ipapatay si Governor Degamo,” Atty. Ferdinand Topacio mentioned in an interview on GMA News’ Unang Balita.
(This is rumour. No one mentioned that they talked to Congressman Teves and that they had been advised to kill Governor Degamo.)
Topacio identified that there is no such thing as a direct proof linking Teves, who’s overseas and on prolonged go away from the House of Representatives, to the March 4 killing.
“Wala naman pong direct evidence. Ito pong sinasabi nilang nagtuturo kay Congressman Teves, ang sabi niya, ayon sa kanyang ambush interview, may kausap daw siyang isang Marvin. At sabi raw nitong Marvin na diumano’y middleman doon sa mga guns for fire ay ang nagpautos nito ay isang Congressman Teves,” he added.
(There isn’t any direct proof. In an ambush interview, the suspect mentioned he talked to a sure Marvin, the supposed intermediary for the weapons for rent, and this Marvin mentioned {that a} Congressman Teves ordered the hit.)
Joric Labrador, one of many arrested suspects within the killing of Degamo, has recognized a sure “Marvin” because the one who recruited them to conduct the assassination. He mentioned they had been advised by Marvin that the order got here from “Cong Teves.
Asked if Teves knew a person named Marvin, Topacio said no but added that it not unlikely for the lawmaker not to know someone named Marvin as it is a common name.
Teves has earlier denied his and his family’s involvement in the killing of Degamo, saying they would not benefit from it. The Teveses and Degamos are political rivals in Negros Oriental.
Topacio, meanwhile, called on authorities to also look into other angles in the killing of Degamo and asked them not to focus on one person.
“Marami pong anggulo ang isang istorya, hindi lamang po isa, kaya huwag po tayong ma-fixate sa isang tao lamang and allow us to observe all leads,” he mentioned.
(There are many angles to a narrative, not just one, so don’t be fixated by one individual solely and allow us to observe all leads.)
Asked if Teves remains to be within the US or already in Asia as acknowledged by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla, Topacio mentioned the data is confidential.
He mentioned Speaker Martin Romualdez, whom he met Wednesday, is conscious of Teves’ present location. He mentioned he’ll let Romualdez speak in regards to the matter.
“Isa po ‘yan sa mga pinag-usapan namin ni Speaker Romualdez noong makalawa noong kami ay mag-usap. Alam naman po nila kung nasaan,” Topacio said.
(That was one of the topcis when I met with Speaker Romualdez the other day. They were aware of Teves’ whereabouts.)
“Pero ang gentleman’s settlement namin ni Speaker Romualdez ay lahat po ng bagay na napag-usapan namin tungkol kay Congressman Teves ay confidential po,” he added.
(But my gentleman’s settlement with Speaker Romualdez is that every one that we mentioned about Congressman Teves through the assembly is confidential.)
On Thursday, Romualdez urged Teves to rethink his resolution to not return to the Philippines for the meantime amid the complaints filed towards him in reference to supposed unlawful firearms.
On March 4, Degamo and 5 others had been killed whereas a number of others had been injured within the assault that was pulled off whereas the governor was distributing assist to his constituents at his residence in Pamplona, Negros Oriental. The loss of life toll later elevated to 9.
Murder and pissed off homicide fees have been filed towards 4 suspects recognized as Joric Garido Labrador, Joven Calibjo Javier, Benjie Rodriguez, Osmundo Rojas Rivero, and 12 John Does earlier than the Tanjay City Regional Trial Court.
Charges of unlawful possession of firearms, ammunition, and explosives had been additionally filed towards three people earlier than the Bayawan City Regional Trial Court.
Aside from complaints involving unfastened firearms, Teves has additionally been named respondent in a separate grievance concerning a number of killings in Negros Oriental perpetrated in 2019. —KBK, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
