Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 27) — The Anti-Terrorism Council’s technical working group will convene “in the next few days” to receive evidence regarding the government’s intention to designate suspended Negros Oriental Representative Arnie Teves as a terrorist.
Justice Secretary Boying Remulla said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) would be presenting the documents.
“Ang NBI kasi ang may hawak talaga ng criminal investigation, hindi naman kami. We are more of the prosecuting arm,” he said in an interview.
[Translation: The NBI is the one handling the criminal investigation. We are more of the prosecuting arm.]
“We are trying here to be objective about what we do. Impartiality is not an issue because we are partially in favor of the Filipino people,\” Remulla added.
Teves has been tagged as the mastermind in the assassination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.
The suspended lawmaker has yet to return to the country after his travel authority lapsed.
Remulla said they are expecting complaints to be filed against Teves next week.
“We’re looking at next week as the time for the filing of cases ng NBI dito sa DOJ para madadalhan na natin ng notice si Congressman Teves sa last known address,” he explained.
[Translation: We’re looking at next week as the time for the filing of cases by the NBI here at the DOJ, so that we can deliver the notice to Congressman Teves at his last known address.]
