BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Negros Oriental 3rd District’s Cong. Arnolfo Teves Jr. was tagged by one of the suspects as the one who ordered them to attack Gov. Roel Degamo.
In a video interview with John Consulta of GMA News yesterday, the suspect, who appeared to be Joric Garrido Labrador, claimed he was initially offered to serve as VIP security only.
He added they have no idea the target of the attack in Pamplona town was Degamo.
Department of Justice (DOJ) secretary Crispin Remulla, in an interview with ABS-CBN News, said they are investigating everybody who may have something to do with the crime.
Degamo and Teves are known to be bitter political rivals in Negros Oriental.
Responding to the news on Teves, Sen. Imee Marcos, who visited Talisay City, Negros Occidental yesterday afternoon, said it is now clear the suspects were merely hired and it is essential to get into the bottom of the conspiracy.
“No matter how influential or how powerful, I think it’s essential that the culprits be punished,” Marcos added.
On March 4, Degamo along with eight civilians were killed at the former’s residence in Barangay San Isidro, Pamplona.
Several arrests were made a few hours later, with one of the suspects died after engaging in a gun battle with the law enforcement.
Aside from Labrador, the four other suspects who were arrested were Joven Aber, Benjie Rodriguez, Rickyvelle Luces, and Osmindo Rivero.
Of the five, two revealed vital information that could solve the crime and were placed under the Witness Protection Program by the DOJ.
On Monday, March 6, Teves denied involvement in the Degamo slay. In a video message addressed to the public, he said he had no ill will towards Degamo.
“Napag-alaman ko kasi sa aking intel na gusto talaga ako idiin ng isa diyan. Nagkamali siya ng salita dahil hindi niya alam na marami akong kakilala,” Teves said in the video posted on his Facebook account.
“Alam mo kung sino ka. Huwag niyo naman sana akong gawin na isang instrumento para sa inyong pagsikat… Kung may balak man ako o may kakayahan na gawin ito, di sana ginawa ko na ito bago pa mag-eleksyon,” he added.
Teves reiterated that he and his brother, former Bayawan City mayor Henry Teves, were not responsible for the incident.
“Anong motibo kung ngayon gagawin, di ba? Hindi rin magiging benepisyaryo ako at ang kapatid ko,” Teves continued.
“Dahil kung mawala ang gobernador, ang uupo naman ang vice governor, hindi naman ang kapatid ko na talagang nanalo noong eleksyon, pero hindi ko alam anong magic na nangyari na pinababa sa pwesto ang aking kapatid,” he added./PN
