Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. (left), and Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnulfo Teves Jr. (right). (File photos)
MANILA – Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnulfo Teves Jr. should come home and clean his name if it is true that he has nothing to do with the assassination of Gov. Roel Degamo, a fellow lawmaker said on Friday.
Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. said that Teves, who is currently in the United States for medical reasons, should do the right thing and face the accusations against him..
“That is just the most prudent and right thing to do lalo na at isa siyang halal na opisyal (especially that he is an elected official). Flight is an indication of guilt at kung wala siyang kinalaman, hindi niya gugustuhin na ganun ang mangyari (and if he has nothing to do with it, he would not want that to happen),” Revilla said.
The lawmaker's statement came after the arrested suspects publicly identified Teves as the mastermind behind the murder of Degamo.
Revilla also urged the other perpetrators to surrender noting that authorities will find them soon anyway.
Based on the travel clearance from House Secretary General Reginald Velasco, Teves is on a “personal foreign trip” to the United States (US) from Feb. 28 to March 9.
Citing President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s resolve to put an end to senseless violence and warlordism, Revilla believes that those on the run will be caught by any means necessary.
Marcos already ordered government authorities to hunt down all those responsible for Degamo's death.
"My government will not rest until we have brought the perpetrators of this dastardly and heinous crime to justice,” he said.
The President also ordered the Philippine National Police to identify areas in the country where local killings and intense political rivalries exist.
Teves’ travel authority has expired
House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez also advised Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. (Negros Oriental, 3rd District) to come back to the country as soon as possible.
“Makabubuti rin na umuwi si Cong. Arnie para harapin ang pagkakadawit ng pangalan ng kanilang pamilya sa pagkamatay ni Gov. Roel Degamo (It would be better for Cong. Arnie [Teves] to come home and face the alleged involvement of their family’s name in the death of Gov. Degamo),” Romualdez said in a press statement.
“We all want to hear his side of the story,” he added.
Furthermore, Romualdez said that Teves’ authority to travel to the United States was covered only by the period Feb. 28 to March 9, 2023.
“Clearly, the TA of Rep. Teves has expired effective today (March 10). His travel outside the country beyond the period mentioned is no longer authorized by the House of Representatives,” the House Speaker said.
Romualdez also cited President Marcos’s resolve to unmask the perpetrators of the heinous crime and bring them to justice.
“Maraming buhay ang nawala maliban kay Gov. Degamo. Umamin na ang mga nahuling salarin sa partisipasyon nila sa krimen. Hindi titigil ang pamahalaan para kilalanin at papanagutin ang mga nasa likod ng brutal na krimeng ito (Many lives were lost aside from Gov. Degamo. The arrested suspects had already admitted their participation to the crime. The government won’t stop to identify and punish those who are behind this brutal crime),” he said. (PNA)
