Rep. Arnolfo Teves asks DOJ prosecutors to dismiss firearms case
Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr.
MANILA, Philippines — The camp of Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. has asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to dismiss the illegal possession of firearms, ammunition, and explosives filed against him.
In a motion to dismiss, Teves, through his lead counsel Ferdinand Topacio, said the complaint filed by the Philippine National Police (PNP) should be dismissed for “utter lack of merit.”
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) filed the complaint following the simultaneous implementation of search warrants in the properties owned by the lawmaker.
But during the March 14 preliminary investigation, the prosecutor gave the police up to March 29 to submit additional evidence to boost its case against Teves.
Article continues after this advertisementOn March 29, the police submitted a certification stating that the fragmentation hand grenade is in good condition while the .40 S&W Glock 23 Gen 4 is registered under Jose Palo Gimarangan, Teves’ co-respondent in the case with an expiry date of April 5, 2033, but was revoked on Feb. 23, 2023.
Article continues after this advertisementTopacio said despite the opportunity given by the prosecutor, the police “miserably failed to prove the element of possession.”
“A perusal of the records of this case, however, yields absolutely nothing to prove such ownership nor possession by Respondent Teves of the premises subject of the search,” read the motion to dismiss.
“In sum, complainants, with their evidence, even left uncontroverted, miserably failed to discharge their duty to establish probable cause against Respondent Teves as nothing has been shown to support his alleged constructive possession of any of the confiscated articles, much less of the premises where they were allegedly found,” read the motion.
Last month, prosecutors dismissed one of the eight complaints for illegal possession of firearms against Teves. However, he still has seven more complaints about illegally possessing firearms and explosives before the DOJ.
Teves, currently abroad, has been tagged as the mastermind for the killing of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and eight others.
