Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos announced that 17 cases have already been filed against suspects in connection with the the March 4 killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and eight others. 

“As of now, just to recap ang nai-file na natin walong kaso of murder, six cases of frustrated murder, isang violating ng RA10591 and violation of 95116,” Abalos said in a media briefing Monday. 

A total of 17 cases were filed. Yun namang mga biktima, there are total of 27 victims. 9 napatay, ang medyo tinamaan na malubha ay 15 pa na hindi namatay, tapos yun 3 naman attempted murder,”  

Benhur Abalos

Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr has been tagged as the alleged mastermind in Degamo’s killing but the latter’s camp has vehemently denied his involvement in the case. 

Raid was ‘illegal’

On March 11, authorities conducted a raid in two of his homes and resort where police confiscated loose firearms and grenades. The Negrense lawmaker’s camp however cried foul over how the search was conducted and even said that the raid was in fact “illegal” and that the elements of the Philippine National Police operatives “planted” them.

“I’m not implying, I’m saying planted ‘yun,” Teves’ legal counsel boldly told the media in a briefing Monday morning along with two other lawyers Edward Santiago and Toby Diokno. 

Agents of the PNP ’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) swooped down on the two houses of Rep. Teves and in Barangay Malabugas in Bayawan City, and a resort in Barangay Poblacion in Basay municipality. 

The CIDG released a photo showing several assault rifles allegedly seized during the raid.

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos clarified that the raid was in connection to the killing of provincial board member Miguel Dungog and two others, and not on the killing of Degamo. 

Why keep firearms when he knew his house will be raided?

Topacio said his client had an intel that his house will be raided. 

“Well common sense eh, alam mo nang re-raidin ka two months ago, hindi mo pa ba maitatago? Kung talagang may armas ka, hindi ko sinasabing may armas ka ha. Una sinurrender na namin lahat ng armas, pangalawa, alam mo nang re-raidin ka, hindi mo ba i-sa-sanitize ‘yung bahay mo? At saka ganun karami?” Topacio said. 

‘Scripted’

“Nung una po, meron po silang tinatawag na clearing team, ‘yun po ‘yung napaka highly irregular bago po nila inimplement mismo ‘yung search,” Santiago said. 

This, according to the lawyers, was a clear violation since searches should be done in the presence of at least two witnesses to attest that the inspection is done properly. 

Occupants in the homes were barred from entering the premises and were kept to one place. He even said that they have evidence to prove that the clearing team stayed inside Teves’ home for about an hour without any witness to their activity. 

Wala pong media, walang barangay officials so nung sinabi po na nagkaroon na ng implementation ng search, after na po ‘yun nung clearing team. Mga isang oras nagkaroon ng clearing team, tapos dumating po ‘yung barangay tapos namili po sila ng tauhan ni Cong. Teves na magwi-witness ska po sila nag-ikot. So nu’ng nag-ikot po nakita na po nila”

Edward Santiago

Santiago further said that  what’s funny was the grenade supposedly seized were found in the laundry area in both Teves’ home in Bayawan City and his resort in Basay town. 

“Alam naman po ni Cong Teves na ire-raid na po siya, ganun lang po ang tingin niyong gagawin ni Cong Teves kung nagtatago po talaga siya ng granada?” he said. 

They also noted the lack of body cams during the search which is likewise a requirement. 

Police did their job well

Abalos meanwhile stood firm that the police operatives followed all the protocols in serving a search warrant. 

“Lahat ng kanilang i-raise, i-raise nila, ang importante rito, ayon sa ating mga operatiba na pulis, they followed all protocol. Dahil maingat nga kami sa technicality rito,” he said. 

“Pabayaan mo nang korte ang humusga rito. What is important ay matugis ang mastermind nito ng malinis,” he added. 

He also denied that he was only after political vendetta against the lawmaker. 

“Anong political vendetta, magkalaban ba kami sa pulitika? Hindi ko naman siya kalaban, anlayo naman Mandaluyong ako. Anong meron?” he said. 

Teves intends to return

The legal counsels assured that the lawmaker intends to return to the country to personally answer allegations against him. 

I’m sure and as I personally know Cong. Teves, he would return to answer all these accusations against him but of course makikita niyo naman that even before this incident, he already predicted that there’s already a security threat to his person and his family,” 

Toby Diokno.

Teves’ travel clearance for a trip to the US for medical reasons had already expired on March 9. 

Fundamental fairness

The lawyers again asked the public as well as the government agencies involved to practice “fundamental fairness” in dealing with the case. They also said they welcome an “impartial investigation” that would look into all possible angles of the case. 

Teves was tagged as the mastermind of the March 4 ambush of Governor Roel Degamo and eight others in Pamplona town in the province.