Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 22) — The defense team of Negros Oriental Representative Arnie Teves on Thursday filed an urgent motion asking the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the panel of prosecutors to inhibit themselves from hearing the murder complaint against the embattled lawmaker.
Teves’ team claimed Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin \”Boying\” Remulla has already prejudged the case.
The legal team said the case should be handled instead by the Ombudsman as he has a judicial temperament.
\”It is not very likely that the Ombudsman will use his office as a stepping stone for political office. Hindi katulad ng hinala namin dito sa DOJ na baka ginagamiit itong DOJ as a stepping stone for a senatorial position,\” said Ferdinand Topacio.
[Translation: It is not very likely that the Ombudsman will use his office as a stepping stone for political office. Unlike what we suspect with the DOJ which might be used as a stepping stone for a senatorial position.]
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Suspended Negros Oriental Rep. Arnie Teves is seeking for the inhibition of DOJ and panel of prosecutors from hearing his murder complaint and wants the Ombudsman to take over the investigation.
Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio: The case has already been prejudged. @cnnphilippines pic.twitter.com/R7f3jwqYN9
— Anjo Cagmat Alimario (@anjocalimario) June 22, 2023
The DOJ has not issued a statement on the latest move of the lawmaker's team.
Teves, tagged as the mastermind in the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and nine others, was suspended by the House of Representatives for another 60 days beginning May 31 over his continued unauthorized absence from work.
He has yet to return to the country after leaving for the United States last February.
Murder complaints have been filed against Teves in connection with Degamo’s killing, as well as other deaths in Negros Oriental.
