Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 15) — The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) filed on Wednesday criminal complaints for illegal possession of firearms and explosives against Negros Oriental 3rd district Rep. Arnolfo Teves and his two sons.
In a media briefing, PNP spokesperson PCol. Jean Fajardo said that the complaints lodged before the Department of Justice stemmed from the police raid on the lawmaker’s properties at Bayawan City, Negros Oriental, where authorities seized firearms and explosives.
The authorities raided Teves’ properties after a witness testified that the lawmaker was in possession of loose firearms.
Fajardo said that Teves and his sons Kurt Matthew and Axel violated Republic Act (RA) 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, and RA 9516, or the law on illegal possession of explosives.
Fajardo reiterated Teves’ lawyer and barangay officials were witnesses when the search was conducted.
\”Yung naisampa po this afternoon at 3 p.m. ay yung naiwan pong isang kaso with respect po doon sa implementation ng search warrant doon po mismo sa bahay ni Congressman Teves, na kung saan po yung implementation ng search warrant ang nag-witness po doon ay yung mismong abugado po nila at mga barangay officials po,\” she told reporters.
\”Naisampa na po kaninang alas tres sa Department of Justice yung kaso for violation of RA 10591 at yung illegal possession of explosives po,\” she added.
[Translation: The one that was filed at 3 p.m. was the complaint left in respect to the implementation of search warrant on Congressman Teves’ house, wherein their lawyer and the barangay officials were witnesses. The complaints for violation of RA 10591 and for illegal possession of explosives were already filed before the Department of Justice this afternoon.]
The PNP-CIDG filed on Tuesday criminal complaints against Teves’ secretary and five others, also for illegal possession of firearms and explosives.
Teves has been tagged as the alleged “mastermind” in the March 4 assassination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, where a total of nine people were shot dead.
