Gov”t to ensure safety of Arnie Teves –DOJ

The Philippine government will ensure the safety of former Negros Oriental representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. for him to face the charges filed against him in the Philippines, Justice spokesperson Mico Clavano said Friday.

“The priority will be ‘yung safety and security ni Ginoong Teves,” Clavano said in an ambush interview with the media when asked where Teves will be detained.

Teves, the alleged mastermind behind the killing of Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo, was arrested on Thursday afternoon while playing golf in Timor-Leste.

The former lawmaker never returned to the Philippines following the late governor’s death, which he stressed had nothing to do with him. His legal counsel said he had yet to return to the country due to concerns about his safety. 

Once in the country, Teves will face murder, frustrated murder, and attempted murder charges for the killing of Degamo and several others at the home of the then-governor on March 4, 2023.

Aside from the murder of Degamo, Teves and others have also been charged with the deaths of three individuals in Negros Oriental in 2019.

Teves’ legal counsel, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, declined to comment when asked about the arrest.

“I’m not in the (Philippines) and the details I have are still sketchy. I will have to reserve my comments for now,” Topacio told the media.

Teves was placed on the red notice of the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) in February.

A red notice is a request for law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and arrest a person pending his extradition, surrender, or similar legal action.

In August 2023, Teves was designated as a terrorist along with 11 others by the Anti-Terrorism Council due to alleged killings and harassment in Negros Oriental.

Clavano, meanwhile, said that the manhunt operations against Teves’ co-accused will continue.

“Dahil meron pa rin, kagaya ng sinabi ninyo, meron pa rin at-large na mga respondents dito sa kaso na ito. And for us to be able to paint a clear picture, a complete picture, kailangan makuha natin sila lahat,” he said.

(Because the other respondents are still at-large, the manhunt operations will continue.)—AOL, GMA Integrated News