DOJ on Bantag, Teves cases: Stay patient

Department of Justice Assistant Secretary Jose Dominic Clavano on Thursday called for patience in the cases against former lawmaker Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. and ex-Bureau of Corrections chief Gerald Bantag.

At a Palace press briefing, Clavano was asked for updates on the cases of Teves and Bantag.

''Well… obviously there’s an international component to the Teves cases. He is now arrested and under the custody of the police in Timor Leste. However, we are awaiting the decision of the courts there as we have submitted already the request for extradition,'' Clavano said.

''So, you know with these things, we just have to stay patient. We are dotting all the I’s, crossing all the T’s to make sure that we follow the right process, we afford the respondent due process so that there is nothing that can be attributed to the government saying that we did not… we took shortcuts and whatnot,'' he added.

When asked about Bantag, Clavano said the manhunt operation against him continues.

''We have a general idea already of his whereabouts so it’s just a matter of time. Again with these things, we just have to stay patient – these things don’t happen overnight. The wheels of justice, they grind slowly but they grind very finely so we just have to stay patient,'' the Justice official said.

The DOJ has urged Timor-Leste authorities to immediately deport or extradite Teves after his son allegedly offered a bribe to a member of the East Timor police.

Citing reports, the Justice Department said that Teves’ son offered a bribe to a member of the Criminal Investigation Police in the amount of $2,000 or P114,000 in exchange for special treatment such as “security” inside and outside the Becora Prison where the ex-solon from Negros Oriental is being held.

The former congressman is being accused as the alleged mastermind in the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo in March, 2023. The assassination resulted in the deaths of nine other people.

Meanwhile, agents of the National Bureau of Investigation recently went to serve warrants of arrest at two known addresses of Bantag, who has been implicated as the alleged mastermind in the killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid on March 2022.—RF, GMA Integrated News