Teves brother files COC for Negros Oriental special polls

Pryde Henry Teves —PRYDE HENRY TEVES FACEBOOK

MANILA, Philippines — Former Negros Oriental governor and “terrorist-tagged” Pryde Henry Teves has filed a certificate of candidacy for the special elections to replace his brother, expelled Negros Oriental 3rd district Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr.

According to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday, during the third day of the filing of COC for the special election in the province, Henry Teves is the second aspiring candidate to file a COC for the vacant post.

It can be recalled that Arnie Teves was expelled from the roll of the House of Representatives on August 16, 2023 for chronic absence and indecent conduct, with 256 members voting to adopt the recommendation of the Committee on Ethics and Privileges.

Arnie’s absences were rooted in his alleged involvement in the assassination of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo in March, where he is pointed as the mastermind.

READ: Teves camp condemns ‘terrorist’ tag: A weaponization of anti-terror law

Meanwhile, both the Teves brothers, along with 11 others, were tagged as “terrorists” for their alleged involvement in a “terrorist group” responsible for the assassination of Degamo, as well as involvement in other political killings in the province.

So far, only three people have filed their COCs for the special elections, with a certain Lenin Alviola submitting his own COC on the same day as Henry Teves.

READ: Aspiring candidate files COC for Negros Oriental special poll

The period for the filing of COCs is set from November 6 to 11, with the special elections set on December 9.

Comelec chair George Garcia previously said that because of several cases of political violence in the province, the poll body is studying placing the third district of Negros Oriental under its control during the special elections.