FILE PHOTO: Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla. INQUIRER FILES
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Monday said Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. is 鈥渂eing considered鈥� as one of the masterminds in the March 4 killing of Gov. Roel Degamo and eight others.
At a press conference, Remulla said they are currently looking at two to three masterminds.
鈥淭hey can be contacted. I think meron namang nasa social media dyan. 鈥榊ung isa, meron nag text sa akin. I told you last week, Cong. Teves texted me. They are being considered as masterminds,鈥� the chief of the Department of Justice (DOJ) told reporters.
According to Remulla, the investigation is progressing, and 鈥渢hat is the direction we are heading.鈥�
He added that the younger brother of the lawmaker, former Negros Oriental Gov. Pryde Henry Teves might also be implicated in the Degamo case following the raid in his sugar mill last Friday, March 24, where authorities seized a huge cache of high-powered firearms, ammunition, and explosives.
READ: PNP raids Rep. Teves鈥� brother鈥檚 sugar mill for illegal firearms
鈥淲e will look at the facts in the best way possible. We will see the participation of people and we will see also from what we have right now how the statements given by the suspects jive with the facts that we have discovered,鈥� Remulla said.
He also said that ex-governor Pryde Henry Teves will be subjected to a preliminary investigation, in which respondents or people named in the complaint will be given the opportunity to submit their counter-affidavit, or their side to an accusation, and supporting evidence.
鈥淲e have to respect the rights of people,鈥� he added.
Meanwhile, Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr.鈥檚 lawyer, Ferdinand Topacio, called for fundamental fairness.
鈥淪ana magsalita na lang kung meron ng case in court na ipa-file niya (I hope they will just speak if there is already a case that will be filed in court). During the course of the preliminary investigation, the DOJ should not lose its image of impartiality and lack of prejudice,鈥� Topacio told reporters.
鈥淔undamental fairness鈥︹�檡un lang naman po ang aming panawagan mula鈥檛 sapul (that鈥檚 all we鈥檝e been calling for since the beginning),鈥� he added.
RELATED STORIES
Negros Oriental governor shot dead inside his house
Degamo widow wants Teves expelled from House over e-gambling, murder claims