Teves wants DOJ prosecutors to inhibit from Degamo murder case

DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla (left) and Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. is asking a panel of Department of Justice prosecutors to inhibit from handling the Pamplona massacre case.

In an urgent motion filed Thursday, Teves argued that no DOJ prosecutor could be unprejudiced in their investigation of the March 4 murder of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and 10 others.

The motion asserted that the DOJ prosecutors must inhibit “because their boss, the Secretary of Justice, has been firm in claiming that Teves Jr. is the mastermind in the Degamo murder, even prior to the filing of this case.”

READ: Remulla: Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. ‘being considered’ as among masterminds in Degamo slay

“Unfortunately, in this case, no prosecutor under the Department of Justice (DOJ) can confidently and honestly say that they can resolve this preliminary investigation with fairness, impartiality, independence, and integrity as demanded by law and jurisprudence,” it reads.

Teves also said the DOJ must turn over the case to the Office of the Ombudsman, which should handle the preliminary investigation until its conclusion.

The suspended lawmaker’s lawyer, Ferdinand Topacio, pointed out that Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, who supervises the prosecutors, has made a number of public pronouncements implying that Teves is already guilty.

READ: Remulla: Arnie Teves is ‘executive producer’ if Degamo’s murder is a movie

“Any prosecutor that says there is no probable cause, in effect sinasabi nilang mali ‘yung kanilang Secretary. Sinong prosecutor ang gagawa noon samantalang hawak ng Secretary ang yong promotion, assignment etc.,” Topacio told reporters.

(Any prosecutor that says there is no probable cause is, in effect, saying their Secretary is wrong. Which prosecutor will do that while the Secretary holds your promotion, assignment, etc.?)

READ: 10 suspects in Degamo’s slay withdraw testimony vs Teves

Remulla earlier said Teves should just come home and face the accusations if he is really innocent.

Sought for comment, DOJ Spokesperson Jose Dominic Clavano said, “we must afford the panel of prosecutors a free hand to handle the case under preliminary investigation.”

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