黑料社

MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Expelled Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo 鈥淎rnie鈥� Teves Jr.鈥檚 lawyer on Sunday said Vice President Sara Duterte鈥檚 accusation that the Marcos administration is using the 鈥淎rnie Teves playbook鈥� against her is 鈥渉orrifyingly familiar.鈥�

According to Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, the administration is employing a systematic strategy to target political opponents, which mirrors the treatment of his client.

Teves is wanted for the killing of Governor Roel Degamo and others in March 2023, known as the Pamplona Massacre.

Topacio also expressed concerns about the alleged misuse of the anti-terror law.

鈥淭his was the formula used against Mr. Teves, and now it is being used against the Vice President,鈥� his statement read.

READ: DOJ: Teves to be extradited soon

鈥淔irst, the subject of political liquidation is demonized through media and painted as a violent person; then, his security detail is withdrawn, making him feel helpless; then the rubber-stamp House of Representatives is used to isolate the target politically. Fabricated charges are soon to follow,鈥� he added.

He also claimed that there are efforts to tarnish Duterte鈥檚 reputation.

鈥淭his happened in the case of Congressman Teves, and is now obviously happening to the Vice President. After massive efforts to destroy her good name, her security personnel have been recalled, leaving her in grave danger,鈥� Topacio added.

Topacio believes that the alleged campaign to undermine Duterte鈥檚 political standing could escalate, potentially involving a raid on her residence.

鈥淲e would not be surprised if later on, her residence is raided and high-caliber firearms, including explosives, will be planted therein, the latter to make the offense subject to capital punishment and therefore making bail discretionary,鈥� he said.

鈥淗eaven forbid that a high-profile political figure is assassinated, or it will be blamed on the Vice President, precipitately and without regard to due process and other Constitutional safeguards,鈥� he added.

Topacio also criticized the Department of Justice (DOJ) for being聽鈥渨eaponized鈥� to serve as a tool for 鈥減ernicious lawfare鈥� against the political enemies of the administration.

鈥淲hat is scary is that the Department of Justice, which is composed of many professional men and women of integrity, has been prostituted under a leadership that has allowed the DOJ to be weaponized and made an instrument of pernicious lawfare against the political enemies of the current dispensation,鈥� he added.

Topacio called on the public to 鈥渞ise up and stop the relentless abuse and the transformation of our country into a kakistocratic authoritarian state.鈥�

READ: Sara Duterte accuses gov鈥檛 of using 鈥楢rnie Teves playbook鈥� against her