Remulla: Teves used money from e-sabong to sow terror (Latest Sabong News)
Author
Marc Jayson Cayabyab
Date
APRIL 25 2023
MANILA, Philippines — Suspended Negros Oriental congressman Arnolfo Teves Jr. may be designated a terrorist with three to five others for allegedly using money from illegal gambling to sow “terror” in the province, Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said yesterday.
At a press briefing, Remulla said besides being designated a terrorist, Teves may be charged under the Anti-Terrorism Law over the allegation raised during the Senate investigation that Teves used money from illegal gambling operations to fund his attacks against opponents in Negros Oriental, culminating in the March 4 killing of Governor Roel Degamo.
“The fact that this money is being used, was used to finance terrorism, should be one angle that we should follow as investigators, as people who are investigating a dastardly crime,” Remulla said.
Under Republic Act 11479, a person may be liable for committing a terror act by “providing material support to terrorists” such as “financial services,” “lodging,” “training,” “safehouses,” “weapons,” “explosives,” among others.
The money allegedly raised by Teves from illicit activities was used to finance his “terrorist cell” in Negros Oriental, composed of three to five other people, including Teves’ right hand man and co-mastermind Marvin Miranda, Remulla said.
“We’ll be meeting with the Anti-Terror Council very soon (about) the designation of Congressman Teves as a terrorist, and some of the people who work with him. We’re looking at three, four or five other people who may be considered as part of Mr. Teves’ terror organization,” Remulla said.
It was the governor’s wife, Pamplona mayor Janice Degamo, who first alleged in a Senate investigation last week that Teves was involved in illegal drugs and controlled small town lottery operations and e-sabong in the province, in defiance of the nationwide suspension of the online cockfighting games.
Authorities raided a hangar at Dumaguete and took into custody the helicopter allegedly used by Teves to transport the gunmen from Negros Oriental to Maguindanao, Remulla said. The chopper supposedly had the political slogan “Teves Cares” when it was used as an escape vehicle after the attack.
Teves, who refused to return to the country to face the investigation, claimed in a CNN Philippines interview yesterday that he was a victim of a “trial by publicity” and that there is no “rule of law” in the investigation, just “rule of the boss,” pertaining to Remulla.
Teves maintained that his life will be at risk if he returns to the country.
Remulla said he would rather not engage in a “verbal tussle” with Teves, as he dared the congressman to just come back home.
“I really don’t care about what he says, because if he does not want to face the music, he does not deserve my time,” Remulla said.
Teves challenged Remulla to file charges against him in connection to the killing Degamo.
“Why are they subjecting me to trial by publicity? If they really have strong evidence, file charges in court. All you do is talk and hold presscon,” he said over CNN.
Teves also noted that people just wanted to besmirch his name and business while they really do not have a case against him.
He confirmed Marvin Miranda, one of the alleged masterminds in Degamo’s killing, used to be his bodyguard. The lawmaker, however, pointed out that it has been so long since he last talked to Miranda.
