Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Wednesday accused Marvin Miranda, one of many alleged masterminds within the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, of supposedly “directing” different suspects to recant their testimonies.
There are actually a complete of 10 suspects within the case who’ve recanted and are actually saying that they don’t have any data concerning the assassination. Among them are Joric Labrador and Benjie Rodriguez, who named a sure “Cong Teves” because the individual behind the deadly assault.
“Now you can see that Miranda, true to form, as we said was the director of everything, the director of the massacre, was again directing the activities around how they were going to make everybody recant,” he mentioned in an interview.
“So andoon na naman ang papel ni Miranda through his billing as a co-principal, co-mastermind together with Congressman (Arnie) Teves,” he added.
According to Remulla, issues began to unravel after brokers of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) caught Miranda fleeing from Negros Oriental on March 31, days after the primary three suspects have been arrested throughout a sizzling pursuit operation and after the give up of seven others.
The Justice secretary mentioned the discussions with the opposite accused began after Miranda began speaking with Atty. Reynante Orceo, his authorized counsel who’s a former Justice Undersecretary.
“And what we’re saying here is that everything is consistent, and the timing of Mr. Miranda getting captured on March 31 started the process of lawyering up for them,” Remulla mentioned.
Remulla additionally pressured that Miranda had not initially been conscious that Orceo was his lawyer.
For his half, Orceo denied that Miranda had been concerned within the recantation of the opposite accused.
“Wala. Wala talaga. Wala siyang kinalaman doon. ‘Yung ibang accused may mga kanya-kanyang abugado yun,” he advised GMA News Online.
“In the first place, hindi namin napagusapan kung anong nangyari sa ibang accused,” he added.
Perjury
Meanwhile, Remulla mentioned that the recantations should not be taken frivolously as it’s a type of perjury, which is the crime of mendacity underneath oath.
“There’s perjury one way or another. Either they perjured themselves the first time or they’re perjuring their selves now. But definitely, there is perjury in what they’re doing,” he mentioned.
“So a crime has been committed, again, by these suspects but we do not know which is the rule crime. We’re not claiming anything but what we think is that these stories are being made by spinmasters or spin-doctors that they have employed,” he added.
Remulla later mentioned that there was a “lot of money going around from the side of Mr. Teves.”
Justice Spokesperson Mico Clavano beforehand mentioned it is extremely potential for the camp of Teves to be behind the recantation of testimonies, a declare that Teves has denied.
Solid case
According to the Justice Secretary, they’ve proof apart from the testimonies of the suspects.
“Hindi lang naman testimonial. Marami tayong evidence na iba. May independent physical evidence tayo. May circumstancial evidence, marami tayong ebidensya,” Remulla mentioned.
When requested if the case stays sturdy, Remulla mentioned, “Of course, of course.”
He mentioned the DOJ additionally had different witnesses, including that over 50 people have come as much as testify and assist the division’s transfer to designate the lawmaker as a “terrorist”.
Timor-Leste
Meanwhile, Remulla mentioned Teves remains to be in Timor-Leste, the place he beforehand tried to use for political asylum however was denied. Since then, Teves has requested the Timor-Leste authorities to rethink its dismissal.
“He’s about to leave Timor-Leste because his visa was extended due to the petition filed before the Supreme Court of Timor-Leste asking for asylum, for it to be reconsidered properly,” he mentioned.
According to Remulla, Teves arrived at Timor-Leste by means of a non-public jet from Singapore.
He mentioned the lawmaker is being accompanied by 13 individuals, together with his spouse and an individual underneath investigation for the killing of Degamo.
“One of the cohorts that we are investigating is with him… He’s under investigation and he’s accompanying Mr. Teves in Timor-Leste. And he is suspected to play a very big role in the terrorist organization that they are running,” Remulla mentioned.
Teves has but to return to the nation resulting from fears for his security. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., nonetheless, had mentioned their greatest intelligence didn’t understand any menace towards him.
On March 4, Degamo and 9 others have been killed whereas a number of others have been injured after an assault on the late governor’s dwelling in Negros Oriental.
Teves has denied having any hand within the killing of Degamo. On Monday, the suspended lawmaker mentioned the recantations of the suspect-witnesses should not sufficient to persuade him to return to the nation. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
