SENATE PANEL TACKLES GOV. DEGAMO’S MURDER: Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, chairperson of the committee on public order and dangerous drugs, presides over the public inquiry into the brazen assassination of incumbent Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and the spate of recent political assassination or attempted political assassinations in various areas of the country. (Senate PRIB photos)
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has brushed aside criticisms from the camp of suspended Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. after senators earlier rejected the congressman’s request to attend a Senate probe on Monday virtually.
Teves was among those tagged behind the March 4 massacre of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and eight other individuals, now the subject of an investigation by the Senate committee on public order headed by dela Rosa.
“What do you expect, alangan namang sabihin niya (that he would say): ‘Ah maganda ang pagkakagawa ng hearing’ (Oh, the hearing was good),” dela Rosa told reporters when asked to comment on Teves’ remark that his alleged involvement in the killing has turned into a circus.
READ: Arnie Teves reacts to DOJ’s plan to designate him as terrorist: ‘It’s becoming a circus’
“Alam na natin ang magiging reaction n’ya dahil hindi natin naibigay ‘yung gusto n’ya na mag-testify or magsalita virtually. Talagang galit siya dahil gusto niyang magsalita. Galit siya [dahil] hindi s’ya nakapagsalita. Kami naman as a body, we have to decide whether or not to allow him,” the senator said.
(We already know his reaction because we didn’t give him what he wanted: to testify or speak virtually. He is furious because he wants to talk. He is angry because he is not able to speak. On our part as a body, we have to decide whether or not to allow him.)
At the start of the hearing of the committee this Monday morning, dela Rosa read a prepared statement, saying that panel members had unanimously agreed not to allow the online presence of Teves, who has been out of the country even before he was implicated in the brazen daylight killing of Degamo and others.
READ: Where is Teves? Senate panel rejects lawmaker’s virtual presence in Degamo slay probe
The lawmaker has been citing threats to his life for his refusal to physically surface and face the accusations being hurled at him in connection with the Degamo assassination.
Dela Rosa debunked the unfair tag of Teves’ camp for barring his online presence in the hearing and allegedly using government resources to transport witnesses to attend the Senate inquiry.
“Nasa kanila ‘yan kung sa tingin nila unfair basta ang aming committee ay trying to be fair to everyone. Hindi naman namin sila pinigilan na magsalita kung pupunta sila physically. ‘Yan ang ating requirement, dapat andun sila,“ he said.
(It’s up to them if they think it’s unfair, but our committee tries to be fair to everyone. We did not prevent them from speaking if they came physically. That is our requirement. They should be there.)
READ: Where in the world is Arnie Teves? Villanueva says solon seen in South Korea hotel
“Paano kung magsinungaling sila dun sa virtual participation nila? Paano natin sila ma-contempt. Kung ma-contempt natin sila, paano tayo makakuha ng kustodiya sa kanila? I-grab mo ‘yung screen ng TV at posasan mo..? Hindi man mangyayari ‘yan so hindi naman tayo ganun katanga,” the senator also said.
(What if they lie during their virtual participation? How can we hold them in contempt? If we have them for contempt, how can we get custody of them? Do we grab the screen of the TV and handcuff them? That’s not going to happen, so we’re not that stupid.)
The committee will resume its probe into the country’s Degamo slay and other political killings on Tuesday, April 18.
READ: Senate starts probe into Degamo slay, spate of political killings
The Senate inquiry stemmed from Senate Resolution No. 518 filed by Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros.