MANILA – Arnolfo Teves Jr., a former congressman from Negros Oriental, and other suspects in the killing of Governor Roel Degamo and nine other people were scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday, but a Manila court postponed that date.
Teves is expelled from the House for ignoring his duties and using lewd social media behavior
According to Teves’ attorney Ferdinand Topacio, the arraignment at Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 51 has been postponed till November 29 because of pending applications.
In addition, this information was validated by Andrei Tagum, the Degamo family’s attorney.
“November 29 was set aside for the arraignment of all defendants. In actuality, the court granted the request for a postponement, not only because of the motion itself but also because there were other unresolved matters that needed to be addressed by the court before the arraignment could take place, Topacio told the reporters.
In order to wait for the outcome of their plea before the Department of Justice panel resolution review in relation to Degamo’s murder, the Teves camp had asked to postpone the arraignment.
Topacio declared, “Contrary to what the [DOJ] Secretary has been alleging… na we are evading judicial processes… we are engaging in all the legal processes.
Merianthe Pacita Zuraek, the presiding judge of Manila RTC Branch 51, also allowed Marvin Miranda, the accused, permission to file a motion to quash information in connection with the Degamo slaying arrest warrant that had been issued.
She mandated that a preliminary inquiry into Miranda’s alleged involvement in Degamo’s murder be carried out by the prosecution within 60 days in a resolution released on Wednesday.
Miranda will continue to be in the care of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology while it is being conducted.
The DOJ previously modified the complaint it submitted to the Manila RTC to add Miranda to the list of accused for multiple charges of murder, frustrated murder, and attempted murder after five additional suspects said that he played a “indispensable” role in organizing Degamo’s assassination.
The DOJ identified Miranda as one of the alleged masterminds in the homicide. Miranda was described as Teves’ longtime bodyguard and security assistant.
The motions made by the accused were purely “dilatory,” according to the lawyer for the deceased governor’s family.
“The lawyers sought to investigate these as legal remedies. Undoubtedly, they desired to test the boundaries of the laws. The available legal options exist. However, we maintain that the motions made by the party are not in fact meritorious. Every one of these is dilatory. Each of these is meritless. But in the end, justice will be done,” Tagum said. “They will abuse the laws and even go to the Supreme Court.
Mayor Janice Degamo is obviously requesting justice, as she should be. She really wants the processes to get along more quickly, but we have to abide by the requirements of the rule of law and, of course, the rules of procedure,” he continued.
The DOJ claims Teves is in Timor-Leste, but Tagum also criticized his absence.
“You know what tells you a lot, right? The fact that the congressman is hiding. Ideally, he would be here. He needs to appear in court so he can defend himself. Tagum stated, “He shouldn’t be hiding if he’s truly innocent.
Videos of Teves’ “chance encounter” with former senator Manny Pacquiao in the mentioned nation have lately surfaced online. Tagum remarked that the encounter “must have been accidental.”
Operation to repatriate Teves is still ongoing, according to DOJ
The Philippine government will officially tell the UN of the active arrest warrant for Teves, the DOJ had stated.
“Is the (UN) General Assembly’s job to be the one to balik the nation? Topacio remarked, “Parang hindi yata.
When asked if Teves would go back to the nation to face the charges against him, Topacio responded, “Not that I know of. Though who knows? The world is fluid.
Teves has said he had nothing to do with the murder of Degamo. Supposed threats on his life have prevented him from going back to the Philippines.
