Teves ‘won’t evade justice regardless of excuses,’ DILG’s Remulla vows

DILG Sec. Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla —Inquirer photo/Niño Jesus Orbeta

MANILA, Philippines — Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla vowed to ensure expelled Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. will “not evade justice regardless of his excuses.”

Teves was brought to the Philippine General Hospital on Wednesday for an operation to remove his appendix after initially reporting stomach pains.

“I will ensure that he will not escape justice and that he will not escape regardless of whatever excuses he may say,” Remulla said in an interview with reporters in Manila on Wednesday.

READ: Teves recovering at PGH after appendix surgery

“We will ensure that he will immediately be returned to where he should be detained,” he stressed.

Teves was transferred to a Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) facility in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City last June 9.

The BJMP is an attached agency of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

For his part, Teves’ lawyer Atty. Ferdinand Topacio alleged that the BJMP had shortcomings in addressing his client’s emergency, claiming it took several hours before the expelled Negros Oriental representative was given medical attention.

Teves was initially held in custody at the National Bureau of Investigation’s detention facility at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City, following his deportation from Timor-Leste.

He faces multiple charges of murder, frustrated murder and attempted murder in connection with the killing of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and nine others. /cb