5 other respondents named in murder complaints filed vs Rep Teves in killings of Degamo, 9 others
Five other persons were named as co-respondents in the criminal complaints filed against Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo “Arnie” A. Teves Jr. for the killings of Gov. Roel R. Degamo and nine other persons in Pamplona town on March 4, 2023.
Also named in the complaints filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) before the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday, May 17, were Angelo V. Palagtiw, Neil Andrew Go, Capt. Lloyd Cruz Garcia, Nigel Electona, and a person identified only with the aliases “Gee-Ann, Jie-An,” reportedly a sister of Palagtiw.
Teves and his co-respondents were charged with 10 counts of murder, 14 counts of frustrated murder, and four counts of attempted murder under the Revised Penalty Code. Murder is a non-bailable offense.
Seven suspects in the killings have been charged in court and their cases are pending before the Manila regional trial court (RTC). The transfer of the cases from Negros Oriental to Manila was authorized by the Supreme Court (SC).
Those charged in court were identified as Marvin H. Miranda, Rogelio C. Antipolo Jr., Romel A. Pattaguan, Winrich B. Isturis, John Louie L. Gonyon, Dahniel P. Lora, and Eulogio L. Gonyon Jr.
Among those newly charged before the DOJ, Electona had been arrested by police in Negros Oriental in March and is facing charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives.
Personal details on the other respondents were unknown as the copy of the complaints was not available.
The DOJ is expected to create a panel to conduct the evaluation and study, and, thereafter, come out with a resolution – either to dismiss the charges or file them in court.
Summons will be issued for the respondents to file their counter-affidavits.
In the case of Teves, who has been abroad despite the expiration of his travel authority last March 9, the summon will be served at his last known address.
Teves has been tagged as “one of the masterminds” in the Pamplona killings. He denied the allegations against him.