MANILA, Philippines — Should there be strong evidence linking Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. to the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and eight other people, the Philippine government can work with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to bring him in, said Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Saturday.
Teves, who also faces murder complaints for three killings in 2019, is currently in the United States.
READ: Multiple murder complaint filed vs Teves Jr., 5 others for 2019 killings in Negros Oriental
“Kung siya talaga ang tinurong mastermind at medyo matindi yung evidence na laban sa kanya, may remedy naman po doon yung gobyerno na pwede kanselahan ng passport kung may warrant of arrest na, at makikipag-coordinate po sa FBI ng Estados Unidos para tahimik ang pagdala nila o ang pag-apprehend at pagdala nila sa Pilipinas kay Congressman Teves,” said Zubiri in an interview with DWIZ.
(If he is one of the masterminds and the evidence against him is quite strong, the government has a remedy for that. His passport can be canceled if there is a warrant of arrest, and we can coordinate with the FBI so that apprehending and bringing Congressman Teves back to the Philippines can be peaceful.)
Earlier in the interview, when Teves was not yet named, Zubiri also urged the congressman to face the accusations if he is truly innocent.
“Umuwi siya sa Pilipinas at bigyan niya ang kanyang testimonya,” said Zubiri.
(He should go back to the Philippines and give his testimony.)
House Speaker Martin Romualdez had previously urged Teves to come back home. With Zubiri echoing his statement, the leaders of both the upper and lower chambers of Congress have urged the representative to go back to the Philippines.
READ: Speaker Romualdez urges besieged Teves: Come home
Zubiri had previously called the massacre an act of terrorism, urging the Philippine National Police to enhance their visibility and presence to deter possible criminals.
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