Teves brothers, Comelec eyed as resource persons in Senate probe into Degamo’s killing — Bato

A Senate panel will invite suspended Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr., his brother, former Negros Oriental governor Pryde Henry Teves, and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to its probe into the assassination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa said Tuesday.

Dela Rosa said the Senate public order and dangerous drugs committee, which he chairs, will allow Arnie Teves to attend either physically or virtually.

Since Arnie Teves is a member of the House of Representatives, Dela Rosa said that if the congressman invokes it, they will give him inter-parliamentary courtesy.

"We will be inviting him not as a resource person but as a member of the House whose name is being implicated in the issue at hand. We did that already during our e-sabong investigation [which] he agreeably attended and utilized such opportunity to air his side," Dela Rosa said.

The Senate panel will also seek clearance from the courts to allow the arrested suspects to appear before the panel.

Apart from Comelec and Teves siblings, Degamo’s wife Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo, families of the victims in Degamo’s case, and representatives from the Department of Justice, Philippine National Police, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) will be invited to testify at the Senate.

In hearing Degamo’s case, Dela Rosa said the Senate investigation will focus on government policies  as the Department of Justice is already “in deep with criminal prosecution.”

“Our Senate investigation in aid of legislation will complement their (DOJ) efforts once additional evidence will be unearthed in the process, but my committee will focus more on policy issues that may be fixed through legislations,” the lawmaker said in a text message.

Further, Dela Rosa said the Senate panel will seek the presence of other relevant and material resource persons in other killings in Negros Oriental and the other political assassination cases mentioned in the resolutions filed in the chamber.

On Monday, Dela Rosa’s office said the Senate investigation into the Degamo case will start on April 17.

The Senate panel was supposed to conduct an inquiry on March 15 but it was postponed.

In an interview with Dela Rosa last week, he said the DOJ has asked the Senate panel to “delay” the inquiry so it can focus on the filing of  cases against the alleged masterminds in the killing.

Degamo and eight others were killed while several others were injured in an attack by gunmen at the governor’s home on March 4.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Monday said suspended Rep. Teves appears to be the main mastermind in the killing of Degamo.

Teves has repeatedly denied involvement in Degamo's assassination. —AOL/VBL, GMA Integrated News