The possibility of being tagged as a “terrorist” is what suspended Negros Oriental 3rd District Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves, Jr. found it “funny,” after Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said they would force him to surrender to authorities.
Teves, who refused to return to the Philippines due to safety concerns, is being linked to the assassination of Governor Roel Degamo and eight others on March 4.
He earlier denied involvement in Degamo’s slay.
“Pakiramdam ko, sa totoo lang, nakakatawa na,” Teves said in a Zoom interview with GMA News.
“It’s becoming to be a circus. Paano ka magiging terorista kung hindi ka pa nga nakakasuhan? Paano ka magiging mastermind in the first place,” he added.
Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, Teves’ lawyer, said Remulla’s remarks could not weaponize a particular law for a different purpose.
“Using the Anti-Terrorism Act against a person who is not a terrorist, and not for the purpose for which the law was enacted, would distort the law and pervert the ends of justice,” Topacio told GMA News Online.
Remulla said in a message to reporters yesterday, there is nothing funny about the deaths of Degamo and eight individuals.
“We are guarding against that capability to wreak havoc and destruction to people’s lives,” Remulla said.
On Monday, April 17, during the Senate’s investigation on the assassination, Degamo’s widow, Negros Oriental’s Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo, said it was unfair that Teves would be allowed to attend online while they made an effort to attend physically.
“Hindi pa naman siya nakakasuhan. Wala pa namang warrant of arrest. So, he has to be there physically in the name of fairness,” Degamo told ANC’s “Headstart.”
Teves instead held a virtual press conference during a Senate hearing.
However, Topacio said this was fair.
“Sabi niya, on the ground of fairness, huwag daw pasalihin si Congressman Teves. Nasaan ang fairness kung ‘di mo iintindihin ‘yung other side. So anong mangyayari sa Senado? Sila-sila lang din talagang mag-uusap doon,” he said in an interview.
Senator Ronald Bato dela Rosa said the Senate did not block the Teves’ camp, but they required them to physically attend the hearing.
Meanwhile, Teves said that the threat to his life is real.
“Kung wala lang threat sa aking buhay, pumunta na ako diyan. Hindi ko rin alam bakit kailangan pumunta talaga,” Teves said.
He said he is not scared of being arrested should he return to the country because there is no case filed against him.
“Ang kinakatakutan ko is foul play. Of course, definitely. When I feel safe, I’ll go home,” Teves said.
The suspended lawmaker also questioned government officials, saying he would be safe, as former Governor Degamo had been killed.
“Sana masagot nila ‘yun. Sana sagutin ‘yun ni Remulla at ni [Interior Secretary Benhur] Abalos,” he said.
“Bakit hindi nila nasiguro ‘yung kaligtasan ni Degamo. If they can answer that question, I’ll go home,” he added.
Teves said authorities immediately pointed out possible masterminds before an investigation.
He is no longer expecting fairness in the investigation.
“Sa mga nakikita ko, hindi ko na ine-expect ang fair trial. Bakit? Nauna nga ang paghusga sa pag-imbestiga,” he said. / With reports from ABS-CBN News and GMA News / WDJ