DILG chief to oversee Teves’ safety if he returns home

MANILA, Philippines — Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said he would personally oversee the safety of suspended Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. once he decides to return to the country and face allegations of his involvement in the killing of the province’s governor Roel Degamo last March 4.

“Ako mismo ang magbabantay [kay Teves] (I will watch over Teves myself). I assure you that 100 percent,” said Abalos in a statement.

On April 17, the Senate Committee on public order and dangerous drugs headed by Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa rejected Teves’ plea to attend the online hearing on the assassination of Degamo and other killings in the province.

According to Dela Rosa, Teves reasoned that he was threatened and might get killed if he returned to the country.

For his part, Abalos, who is also the head of the Special Task Force Degamo, said he would coordinate with the Philippine National Police (PNP) to ensure the congressman’s safety as he guarantees that the investigation on the governor’s death “will soon reach its end” and that justice will be brought to the victims’ families.

“Papalapit na ngayon ang Task Force sa huling yugto ng pagsisiyasat nito. Pinagtitibay pa ang lahat ng mga ebidensya para sa pagsasampa ng mga kasong kriminal laban sa natitirang mga suspek kabilang ang pinaghihinalaang mastermind,” said Abalos.

(The Task Force is now approaching the final phase of its investigation. We are still consolidating the pieces of evidence for filing criminal charges against the rest of the suspects, including the suspected mastermind.)

Meanwhile, Abalos thanked the PNP, its counterpart in the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the National Bureau of Investigation for its leadership and progress since the case’s inception.

He also thanked Mindanao-based National Task Force on the Disbandment of Private Armed Groups’ (NTF-DPAGs) personnel, who responded first to Degamo’s murder case.

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