The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) formally filed charges against Negros Oriental 3rd Representative Arnolfo Teves, Jr. for the murder of Governor Roel Degamo and nine others last March of this year.

The NBI submitted boxes of evidence to prosecutors to support the charges of murder, multiple frustrated murder, and multiple attempted murder against Teves, attended by NBI Director Medardo de Lemos.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla also urged the lawmaker to return to the Philippines and face charges.

“Well, flight is an indication of guilt, by any language, by any jurisdiction, by any legal system,” Remulla said.

He also clarified they initially received information that Teves purchased a ticket for a Philippine-bound flight on Wednesday, May 17.

However, Teves’ camp denied he had planned to return home.

“Ang alam kasi namin ticketed na siya. We have sources to tell us his movements,” Remulla said.

“We will not release it if we do not have any reasonable ground to believe that something was going to happen. We have our sources to tell us what the facts are,” he added.

Remulla further said Teves’ presence is required to formally refute the allegations that he masterminded the Pamplona massacre.

“‘Di naman pwede in absentia i-file ‘yan. [Teves] has to personally appear to swear by the contents of his counter affidavit,” he said.

“He has to come home or they can file the case in court and the warrant will be issued in absentia,” he added./With reports from PNA / WDJ