Remulla receives text message from Teves: ‘He wants to talk to me’

FILE PHOTO: Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla. (Senate PRIB)

MANILA, Philippines — Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla disclosed Tuesday that Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. wants to talk to him. He said the lawmaker contacted him via text message.

Teves, who is being tagged in the brazen assassination of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo last March 4, has been out of the country for a medical trip. The travel authority the House of Representatives issued to him expired last March 9.

“I haven’t given an answer,” Remulla said.

According to the DOJ chief, he saw Teves’ text message after reading the message about the surrender of four other suspects in the killing of Degamo.

READ: Four more surrender; team that attacked Degamo almost complete — Remulla

“I don’t want to be distracted. First, I want to focus on the surrender,” he said. Remulla and Teves were former colleagues in Congress.

Remulla said a witness would be present if he ever decided to talk to Teves.

“I don’t want to speak to somebody na walang present na ibang tao [without the presence of other people] because I don’t want words twisted. So, if I talked to him, it would be in front of other people,” he explained.

The DOJ chief said he does not know if Teves is already back in the country.

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KGA/abc