The camp of suspended Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves, Jr. was assured that the Senate preliminary investigation into the killing of Governor Roel Degamo wouldn’t turn into a “kangaroo court.”

“Inimbita natin sila, gusto natin marinig ‘yung side nila,” Senate panel chairman, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said in an online interview with GMA News on Monday, April 10.

“Grabe naman ‘yung kangaroo court. I-handle natin itong hearing na hindi lalabas na kangaroo court,” he added.

Earlier, Teves’ legal counsel, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio called the probe in Degamo slay as a “kangaroo court,” in which “fair proceedings are impossible in an authorized legal hearing due to a partial judge or excessive press coverage.”

“Relax lang siya. Sabihan mo si Atty. Topacio, huwag siya mag-alala,” Dela Rosa said.

The preliminary investigation will start on April 17.

Last week, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla suspected Teves to be the lead mastermind in the killings.

Remulla said the case was already 99 percent solved and Teves fit in the “middle of everything.”

However, the suspended representative appealed for fairness in the probe and he denied Remulla’s claims.

Meanwhile, Dela Rosa said if Teves decides not to attend the Senate hearing to express his side, his legal counsel cannot represent him before the investigation.

“The lawyer is not invited, only the concerned individuals. If he doesn’t want to attend, he will still have inter-parliamentary courtesy,” the senator said.

“Since this is a public hearing, pagbigyan lahat ng gustong mag-testify. I-accommodate natin sila,” he added.

The investigation will also give “closure” to other killings of government officials as witnesses will appear next week in the hearing, Dela Rosa said.

An assurance was also made that the proceedings would not be used for political interests, he said.

“I am a retired policeman. I know how to investigate. I know how not to be used for a political agenda, and how to prevent them from using this hearing as their avenue,” he added.

Degamo and eight individuals were killed following an attack at the former governor’s residential compound in Negros Oriental’s Pamplona town on March 4.

Around 12 suspects in the killings are now in custody, except one who was killed during a manhunt operation.

Teves is being tagged in the incident after suspects claimed the lawmaker as the one who ordered the attack.

He denied involvement in the killings and refused to return to the country due to safety concerns./With a report from GMA News / WDJ