Arnie Teves’ camp to look into all legal options over arrest warrant

The camp of expelled Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. on Friday said they will look into all legal options over the e-warrant of arrest issued by a Manila court against the former lawmaker for the alleged killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.

“We are seriously considering our options kasi ang appeal po, ang sa warrant po, ang appeal diyan ay procedurally you ask the higher court… on a petition of certiorari to say there was grave abuse of discretion in finding probable cause,” Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, Teves’ legal counsel, said.

In August, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that charges of murder, frustrated murder, and attempted murder have been filed against Teves over the March 4 killing of Degamo and nine others.

Shortly after, the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 51 issued an e-warrant of arrest against Teves, Angelo Palagtiw, a certain “Gie Ann” or “Jie An,” and Captain Lloyd Cruz Garcia II.

According to Topacio, they have yet to receive a copy of the DOJ resolution indicting Teves as well as the order of the court for an e-warrant of arrest.

“Kung wala pa po talaga by today… [On] Monday we will be undertaking more steps in order to secure more copies. Hindi lang po ‘yung warrant no, [pati] yung resolution ng DOJ kung bakit ganon ang naging resolution nila,” he said.

(If it’s still not here by today, [On] Monday we will be undertaking more steps in order to secure more copies. It’s not just a warrant but also the DOJ resolution. Why their resolution is like that.)

Topacio said they will also study the possible liabilities that may be imposed against the panel of prosecutors for supposedly not taking into account the recantations of the 10 accused in the killing.

“We want to know why para po magawan natin ng hakbang, not only with respect to the procedure of going up to the Court of Appeals (CA) but possibly for seeing whether those prosecutors who decided it are administratively or criminally liable for deliberately ignoring certain evidence,” he said.

(We want to know why so we can plan for it, not only with respect to the procedure of going to the CA but possibly for seeing whether those prosecutors who decided it are administratively or criminally liable for deliberately ignoring certain evidence.)

GMA News Online has sought comment from the DOJ panel of prosecutors but has yet to receive a response as of posting time.

Teves, who has yet to return to the country, may be going back and forth between Timor-Leste, Cambodia, and Thailand, according to Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.

For Topacio, the arrest warrant may give Teves more reason to not return due to “unfairness.”

“I think, without meaning to second guess him, it will give mete more reason eh hindi siya babalik kasi nakikita niya yung unfairness [he will not return because he sees some unfairness],” he said.

When asked if Teves is considering returning to the country and facing the charges against him in court, Topacio said they will first exhaust all remedies available even without Teves’ presence.

“First we will have to exhaust all legal remedies at our disposal kahit wala po siya [even if he’s not here],” he said.

“We will take it from there as to how things turn out. We have to play it by ear now, but we have an idea where we are going in so far as legal remedies are concerned,” he added.

He said he is also unaware if Teves is seeking political asylum in other countries. Despite this, he said he assumes that “he [Teves] has been seeking legal advise wherever he is.”

‘Not surprised’

Meanwhile, Topacio said Teves was not surprised by the warrant.

“Hindi na po siya nabigla. Natatawa na nga lang po siya eh. Sabi pa nga niya, alam naman natin ayan ang gagawin nila pinag tagal-tagal pa nila,” he said.

[He is not surprised. He is just laughing it off. He’s saying that we know all along that it will lead to this, and it took them so long.]

“And then we outlined to him the remedies available. And sabi niya, sige, [he said, okay] we will do this legally notwithstanding the fact that they have not been treating me fairly. That I have been deprived of due process that they have taken legal shortcuts against me,” he added.

Degamo and nine others were killed, while several others were injured, after an attack on the late governor’s home in Negros Oriental on March 4, 2023.

Teves and his camp have repeatedly denied involvement in the killing. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News