Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 17) – Suspended Negros Oriental Rep. Arnie Teves, who is linked to the murder of Governor Roel Degamo, may be tagged as a terrorist, a Cabinet official said on Monday.
“We are looking at designating him or proscribing him as a terrorist – to have him proscribed by the Court of Appeals and designated by the Anti-Terror Council because of the acts that happened,” Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla said during a Senate committee hearing on the assassination of Governor Degamo.
He said the designation comes from the Anti-Terrorism Council while proscription lies with the Court of Appeals.
The terrorist tag was an offshoot of Teves’ refusal to come home and physically attend the Senate hearings, Remulla added.
READ: Dela Rosa: Senate panel rejects Rep. Teves’ remote attendance at Degamo slay hearing
READ: Rep. Teves will return to PH once security concerns are addressed legal counsel
“We found it [anti-terrorism law] to be the most applicable. If a person will not surrender, then we will have to make the world smaller for him,” he said.
The Anti-Terrorism Council may designate a person as \”terrorist\” if it finds probable cause that the person violated the law.
Remulla said the anti-terrorism law covered activities that led to the killing of Degamo on March 4, including recruitment, financing, and purchase and distribution of firearms.
But the secretary said cases were filed belatedly because \”a lot of legal theories\” has to be considered to build an anti-terrorism case.
\”We are afraid right now that if we file a terrorism case based on the crimes that transpired, it may prejudice other convictions that can be secured easily with the same punishment for multiple murders,\” Remulla said.
Meanwhile, Senator Ronald \”Bato\” dela Rosa said Teves will not be arrested if he returns to the country.
“We have no reason for you to be arrested when you come home. Hindi ka pala puwede arestuhin dahil wala ka pang warrant of arrest [You can’t be arrested because you don’t have an arrest warrant yet],” he said during the hearing.
Dela Rosa said the Senate committee will wait for Teves to come home and attend the hearing until Monday evening.
‘Not red-tagging’
Remulla also defended the plan to designate and proscribe Teves as a terrorist, arguing it’s not red-tagging.
He said the Anti-Terrorism Law is the government’s ally and they will use it in pursuit of justice for those who were murdered last March 4, including Degamo.
Upon designation, the secretary said Teves’ assets can be frozen while proscription will have an international effect.
“And there’s what they call rendition among nations where they can catch for you the terrorists. So sabi ko liliit ang mundo kasi very few countries are not part of UN. Kaya pag wala sa UN, makakatakas ka [So I said the world will shrink because very few countries are not part of the UN. So without the UN, you can escape.] So, you’re in Somalia… you have to go to countries like that,” Remulla said.
Asked when will the DOJ file the pleas for designation and proscription, Remulla noted they would wait for the preliminary investigations to finish.
“We have to finish all the legal theories behind the cases. There are many cases that we are filing and are still about to file. So, when everything is said and done, we can go to the ATC,” he added.
Teves’ response
On the same day, Teves broke his silence on the matter in a surprise press conference.
“Ang pakiramdam ko, nakakatawa na. Nagiging perya na siya. It’s becoming a circus. Paano ka magiging terorista kung hindi ka pa nakakasuhan?” Teves posed.
[Translation: I feel like it’s funny. It has become a circus. How will you become a terrorist if you have not been charged?]
\”How will you be tagged as a mastermind in the first place if there is nothing?\” Teves added, referring to the DOJ’s naming him as one of the main masterminds in the Degamo slay.
Teves further likened his fate to the situation of suspended Bureau of Corrections chief Gerald Bantag, whom the DOJ named as a mastermind behind the killing of radio broadcaster Percival \”Percy Lapid\” Mabasa and alleged middleman Jun Villamor, a national penitentiary inmate.
“Pansinin niyo ang pangyayari kay Bantag at pangyayari sa akin, parehong pareho ang script. [Look at what’s happening to Bantag and me, they follow the same script],” Teves claimed.
The DOJ recently issued a warrant of arrest against Bantag for Villamor’s death, an occurrence Teves said that is \”expected\” to happen to him soon.
The DOJ said it had not yet issued an arrest warrant against Teves.
“Sa totoo lang, sa mga nakikita ko, hindi ko na ine-expect ang fair trial. Bakit? Nauna nga ang paghusga kaysa sa pag-imbestiga. I think you all agree with me,” the congressman stressed.
[Translation: To be honest, from what I’m seeing, I’m not expecting a fair trial anymore. The judgment has come before the investigation.]
