Remulla gets text message from Arnie Teves

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Tuesday said that Negros Oriental representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. has reached out to him through a text message.

“I received a text message yesterday but I don’t want to speak to somebody na walang present na ibang tao. Because I don’t want words twisted. So if I talk to him it will be in front of other people,” said Remulla in an ambush interview.

Remulla later said he did not want the message to distract him. The Justice secretary said he received the message after finding out that four more suspects in the killing of Degamo surrendered.

“He wants to talk to me, but I haven’t given an answer because we’re still busy doing what we’re doing. I don’t want it to distract me from what I have to do first,” he said.

Teves is facing complaints of murder over 2019 killings and illegal possession of firearms, ammunition, and explosives. He is also being linked to the death of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo after suspects in the assassination pointed to a certain “Cong. Teves” as the one who ordered the hit.

Teves has yet to return to the Philippines following a personal trip to the United States.

For his part, Teves camp has denied involvement in the killing of Degamo as well as ownership of the firearms allegedly retrieved from his residence.

According to Teves’ lawyers, he has yet to return to the Philippines due to concerns about his security. He has also asked the House leadership to grant him a two-month leave of absence, citing a "very grave threat" to his life and his family.

Meanwhile, the House Committee on Ethics gave Teves 24 hours to show up in the House of Representatives or face sanctions due to his continued absence despite the lack of travel authority. Hours before the deadline, Teves camp asked the House leadership to allow him to virtually participate in congressional proceedings amid the criminal complaints filed against the lawmaker. —VAL, GMA Integrated News