Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 25) — Suspended Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves should file appropriate complaints against Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo and Siaton Mayor Cezanne Fritz Diaz if he saw any issue in their Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN), a lawyer said Tuesday.
“Kung mayroon s’yang reklamo sa SALN nina (Mayor) Fritz Diaz at Mayor (Janice) Degamo, mag-file s’ya ng complaint sa Ombudsman, but the subject matter now is ‘yung sarili n’ya,” Levi Baligod, lawyer of the Degamo family, told CNN Philippines’ The Source.
[Translation: If he has complaints about the SALN of Mayor Fritz Diaz and Mayor Janice Degamo, he should file a complaint before the Ombudsman, but the subject matter now is himself.]
In an interview with CNN Philippines, Teves questioned the need to look into his wealth amid the ongoing investigation into the assassination of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo, which the former allegedly orchestrated.
Mayor Degamo is the late governor’s widow, while Diaz is his nephew.
Teves urged authorities to look into the mansion allegedly owned by Mayor Degamo and the luxury car owned by Diaz.
The suspended congressman also claimed that the firearms and explosives seized in his property were planted and that he has evidence to prove it.
Baligod questioned this, noting that when authorities implemented the search warrant, there were already three lawyers and 20 employees of the Teveses present in the property to be searched.
The lawyers signed a document saying that the search was orderly, Baligod said. The Teves camp also cannot present proof that the items were indeed planted despite the presence of a number of their employees, he added.
Teves, who was named as one of the masterminds of the assassination, continues to refuse to return to the Philippines, citing threats to his life. He flew to the United States in late February for medical purposes.
