Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 13) — Former Negros Oriental Governor Pryde Henry Teves claimed that the cops disabled the CCTV cameras while conducting a search inside the 10-hectare Tolong Sugar Mill or HDJ compound.
In his counter-affidavit, Teves attached a video file supposedly showing how the search team disabled the CCTV camera at the main gate.
“The act of the police officers tilting and disabling the CCTV camera away from them in an effort to conceal something seriously puts into question the discovery of the items within the compound,” Teves said.
He pointed out that the CCTV cameras could have been the best safeguard of the cops to prove they had nothing to hide.
Teves also claimed that witnesses from their corporation were only called to sign the inventory of the seized items, insisting that no representatives were present during the actual search.
He also denied possessing the firearms, ammunition, and explosives seized in the property during the seven-day raid. He argued that he never had actual possession of the items.
Teves also questioned the search warrant used by the police, pointing out that the place to be searched was not described in detail.
He said that since the search warrant is void, it only follows that the items seized should be suppressed for being “fruits of the poisonous tree,” which rendered them inadmissible as evidence.
“I cannot help but ask: Why am I being singled out? There is a modern-day witch hunt happening and I continue to bear the brunt of it. Never have I imagined having the name Teves carried so much weight,” he said.
Authorities seized about ₱18 million in cash, multiple firearms, and nearly 10,000 rounds of live ammunition in the first raid in the sugar mill allegedly owned by Teves.
Several personal belongings of alleged gunmen who assassinated Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo were also later on recovered in the sugar mill.
