CONGRESSMAN’S ARSENAL | The police gather the firearms they said were seized during a raid on three properties owned by Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. in the province on Friday, March 10, 2023. Teves is being linked to the March 4 assassination of Gov. Roel Degamo, but officials say the raids are in connection with the complaint he faces for a series of killings in 2019. (Photo from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group)
MANILA, Philippines — Police filed criminal charges against the secretary of Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. and five others who were arrested during a series of raids on the lawmaker’s residential properties in the province last week, which yielded several deadly weapons.
The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) on Tuesday said a complaint for violation of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act was filed against Teves’ secretary Hannah Mae Sumerano; Heracleo Oray; Rodolfo Teves Maturan, alias Jojo Maturan; and Joseph Maturan.
Complaints for violations of the same law and the Law on Explosives were filed against Jose Pablo Gimarangan and Roland Pablio.
Raps vs Teves and sons
All the arrested persons are now in the custody of the CIDG following inquest proceedings at the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Sunday.
The CIDG said complaints would also be filed “as soon as possible” against Teves and his sons Kurt Matthew and Axel, who were not around when the search warrants were served on March 10 on two houses owned by Teves in Basay town, and another one in Bayawan City.
Seized during the operations were three hand grenades, 10 short firearms, six rifles, 465 assorted live ammunition, 194 assorted empty shells and 22 assorted magazines.
Last week, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said the weapons had “spurious documents” and that Teves “should not have the right to carry firearms in the first place,” following the revocation of the lawmaker’s firearms license in January.
“We will assure impartiality in the conduct of the investigation and will hold criminals accountable for the offense they committed,” the CIDG director, Police Brig. Gen. Romeo Caramat Jr., said.
Teves, who flew to the United States for a medical procedure last month, has not returned to the country in fear of his safety, his lawyers said on Monday.
In a statement on Tuesday, Speaker Martin Romualdez assured Teves that he would “exert all efforts to ensure the personal safety” of all House members.
“[Teves] got in touch with me through a phone call last night from an undetermined location. He expressed fear for the safety of his person and his family, saying this is the reason why he refuses to return home at this time,” the Speaker said.
In response to Teves’ concerns, he said he ordered the House sergeant at arms to coordinate with law enforcement agencies and prepare “appropriate security arrangements for his return.”
On Monday, Teves’ lawyer Ferdinand Topacio said the lawmaker intended to come home to clear his name amid allegations he was behind the murder of his political rival, Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo, who was killed on March 4 with eight other people.
At least two suspects in the Degamo killing had named Teves as one of the alleged masterminds, according to police.
Four of the alleged gunmen, Joric Labrador, Joven Javier, Benjie Rodriguez and Osmundo Rivero, all former Army soldiers, were arrested and charged with multiple murder, multiple frustrated murder, and illegal possession of firearms.
Labrador and Rodriguez told investigators a certain “Cong Teves” had ordered the murder.
Same ‘Hannah Mae’
On Tuesday, Teves was named a respondent in a separate murder complaint filed by the police in connection with the 2019 killings of at least three people, including former Negros Oriental board member Miguel Dungog, an ally of Degamo.
One of the five other respondents in that case was Sumerano, Teves’ secretary, although the original charge sheet identified her only by her first name.
The congressman went to the United States last month to undergo stem cell therapy but his authority to travel lapsed on March 9, according to the House leadership.
Also on Tuesday, the Supreme Court ruled that cases filed in connection with Degamo’s killing would be handled by the Manila Regional Trial Court.
In a full-court session, the high tribunal approved the request of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla to transfer the proceedings to the Manila court in view of, among other issues, “the complexity of the cases, security concerns and logistical difficulties.”
According to the court’s Public Information Office, Remulla made the request in a letter to Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo on March 9, through Court Administrator Raul Villanueva.
Remulla said the DOJ “[anticipates] the filing of other cases related thereto, considering the number of victims who are yet to file their complaints.”
‘Hostile environment’
“For ‘all future cases’ that may be filed in relation to the subject charges now pending before the courts in Negros Oriental, Court Administrator Villanueva recommended that the Court may also order the transfer thereof to the RTC in Manila once these are filed in the proper courts in Negros Oriental,” the Supreme Court said.
According to Remulla, the case had gained significant media attention in Negros Oriental, creating a “hostile environment” for the respondents.
He also said “the political complexion surrounding the cases may also lead to intimidation and harassment of the respondents, the private complainants and their witnesses, which could undermine the integrity of the trial.”
In his letter to Gesmundo, the justice secretary cited the logistical difficulties of conducting the trial in the province.
The court said it agreed: “The Court Administrator said that ‘a change of venue to Manila would be in the best interest of all parties involved’ and it ‘will provide a neutral venue where the trial can be conducted fairly and impartially, free from any undue influence or bias.’”