NBI to file criminal charges next week vs Rep Teves in killings of Degamo, 8 others – Sec Remulla
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will file before the Department of Justice (DOJ) next week criminal charges against suspended Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo “Anie” A. Teves Jr. for the March 4 killings of nine persons, one of them Gov. Roel R. Degamo.
“The cases we will be filed next week. Just to put together a good complaint takes a lot of work,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla said on Thursday, April 27.
Teves has been tagged as “mastermind” in the killings. While still abroad, he denied all the allegations against him.
Remulla said that once the cases are filed, Teves will be served the notice at his last known address after a certification from the Bureau of Immigration (BI) that he has not returned.
He said that Teves will be charged with mutiple murder, multiple frustrated murder, multiple attempted murder, and violation of the Republic Act No. 11479, the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.
“Within the next few days yung technical working group po (of the Anti-Terrorism Council or ATC) iko-convene na ‘yan to receive the evidence para sa appreciation of facts about the designation of the subject persons as terrorists (within the next few days the technical working group will convene to receive and examine the facts on the terrorism case that would be filed),” he said.
“The NBI is actually presenting the documents. Ang NBI kasi may hawak talaga ng criminal investigation (The NBI is the one handling the criminal investigation),” he also said.
Remulla had asked the ATC to have Teves and members of the legislator’s criminal organization designated as “terrorists.”
One of those to be charged with terrorism is Marvin H. Miranda, then bodyguard of the congressman, who was alluded to as the “casting director” in the plot to kill Degamo.
“Meron talagang pattern of killings na nangyari. Takot na takot ang mga tao. Kung ang mga pulis nga di makasalita (There is a pattern of killings in the province. The people are afraid. Even the police can’t even talk),” he said.