• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Rep. Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. yesterday broke his silence over the killing of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo, stressing that somebody wants to blame, or pin him down, over the incident, which he even feared a long time ago.
While he did not name names, Teves (3rd district, Negros Oriental) said he believes that a person wants to be famous, at his expense.
Degamo and eight others were killed in an armed attack at his residence on March 4 in Pamplona, Negros Oriental. A total of 17 others were injured, with 13 still being treated in various hospitals in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, as a result of the incident, which has been described as a “massacre.”
In a video statement aired over his Facebook account, Teves disclosed that he was in abroad for a “stem cell treatment,” which caused the delay in the issuance of a statement regarding the incident.
Teves is the brother of Henry Pryde, who stepped down as governor of Negros Oriental, based on the orders issued by the Commission on Elections and Department of Interior and Local Government when Degamo was declared the winning governor of Negros Oriental by the Comelec.
“Kung may balak man ako o may kakayahan na gawin ito, di sana ginawa ko na ito bago pa mag eleksyon. Ano ang motibo kung ngayon ko ito gagawin? Hindi rin magiging benepisyaryo ako, o ang kapatid ko (If I had the plans, or have the capability to do it, I should have done it before the elections. What would be the motive, if I will do it now? I, or my brother, will not benefit from it),” he said.
Teves further said that it will be the vice governor who will take over if something will happen to the governor, stressing that his brother was already ordered to step down from the position.
The Negros Oriental solon also called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to order his subordinates to return the licenses of his guns, for his protection and that of his family members.
Teves also lamented the recall of his security escorts.
In January this year, the PNP revoked Teves’ gun licenses due to lack of documents, followed by the recall of his police escorts, saying they did not come from the Police Security and Protection Group.
After receiving reports on the issuance of search warrants against owners of unlicensed firearms, Teves said he is surrendering his other firearms, stressing that “no one is above the law.”
He also pointed out “I am not fighting against the government. Who is Arnie to fight against the government? I am just an ordinary person.”*
