Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Thursday, April 20, said the legal process to formally designate Rep. Arnolfo Teves (N eg. Or., 3rd District) as a fugitive terrorist has been initiated.
Remulla cited Teves’ refusal to return to the country to face accusations of his involvement in a series of high profile murders.
“A person who is racked by guilt will not come out in public. Whatever he claims if he is not guilty, he should come out. If he is as innocent as he claims, he should face the accusations,” Remulla said.
Pending charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives is sufficient to buttress the government’s plan to designate Teves a terrorist, the DOJ secretary said.
Criminal charges in connection with the deaths in Negros Oriental dating back to 2019 had also been filed against Teves.
Remulla said information they received on sightings of Teves in Korea may be plausible but the information suggests the lawmaker regularly shuttles back and forth to Cambodia.
Moving about in ASEAN-member countries does not require a visa, Remulla said.
Teves has denied involvement in the Degamo massacre and said he has not returned to the country because he fears for his own safety.*PNA