Arnie Teves insists raid on his house designed to pin him down

Suspended Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. on Monday reiterated that the police raid conducted on his property was designed to pin him down.

In a television interview, Teves said one of those involved in the raid even told him that they received orders from two high officials to pin him down.

"'Yung isang nag-raid nagsabi, 'Pasensiya na kayo boss, utos ito ng dalawa doon sa taas.' Hindi ko lang babanggitin 'yung pangalan. 'Wala kaming magawa dahil utos nila talaga na idiin kayo'," Teves told CNN Philippines in an interview.

(One of those who conducted the raid said, 'I'm really sorry boss, this is the order from two at the top.' I won't mention their names. 'We can't do anything because they ordered us to pin you down.')

GMA News Online has sought comment from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), but it has yet to receive a response as of posting time.

DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos, whom Teves in January linked to the raid, has already denied the accusation, calling it "preposterous." At that time, Teves has linked Abalos to efforts to secure a search warrant on his residence and plant evidence against him.

Teves, who is currently out of the country, is being linked to the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and eight other people on March 4.

During the CNN Philippines interview, Teves once again denied ownership of the guns and explosives allegedly retrieved from his house, saying these were planted.

Teves' legal counsel, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, in March, said that the lawmaker had already surrendered the firearms that he owned after receiving information regarding the raid.

The lawmaker said he had revealed to the public that a raid might be conducted against him as early as January.

"Sino naman tanga, maglalagay or mag-iiwan ng kahit anong gamit sa bahay niya kung alam nang ire-raid? January pa lang. Hindi naman ako pinanganak kahapon," Teves said.

(What kind of stupid person will leave items lying around at their home if they know that they will be raided? I knew it since January. I wasn't born yesterday.)

When asked if he could prove that the firearms were planted, Teves said this could be shown in court.

Last week, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the complaint for illegal possession of firearms and explosives filed against Teves is enough to designate him as a terrorist, which may drive him to surrender.

Teves had said that he found the possibility of being tagged as a terrorist funny.  —KBK, GMA Integrated News