Above the law

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has pronounced the killing of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo as “99 percent solved” with the recent arrest of 12 suspects, including a key figure he likened to a “casting director” and “producer” of the March 4 shooting where eight other people died and at least 18 were wounded.

Marvin Miranda, according to Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos, head of the Special Task Force Degamo, recruited the 11 hit men who were former Army soldiers, and provided logistical and financial support in the planning and execution of the Degamo assassination. Remulla and Abalos said they’ve now found the “missing link” to go after the “main mastermind”—Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr., Degamo’s longtime political rival.

Said Abalos: “With the arrest of Marvin Miranda, we are certain that the pieces of the puzzle are almost complete and we can clearly figure out what transpired before, during, and after the brazen attack in Pamplona, which will eventually help us in unmasking and identifying the main conspirators and main masterminds behind the gruesome murder of Degamo and others.”

According to Abalos, Miranda received instructions from Teves whom the latter called as “Boss Idol,” “Big Boss,” and “Kalbo.” Miranda, a military reservist, was Teves’ longtime security and bodyguard, he said.

By Remulla’s account, if Miranda was the casting director and producer, Teves was the “executive producer” of the brazen killings carried out by men wearing military uniforms, who entered Degamo’s home while he was having a meeting with supporters last month. He said it was reasonable to say that Teves funded the killers and the firearms used in the attack. “But unlike the cinema which is fiction, this one is reality. They indeed killed Governor Degamo and eight others, and many more were hurt,” he said.

But despite these grave pronouncements by Abalos and Remulla, Teves is yet to be charged and included among the respondents in the criminal complaint on Degamo’s murder.

Remulla said they must “observe due process” and could not file charges against Teves without a preliminary investigation where the lawmaker could answer the charges against him by filing a counter affidavit. “That’s what we’re waiting for. But otherwise, the boxing [match] is finished, we have arrested all of the [main suspects].”

Worse, Teves could not even be located or compelled to come home either by the authorities or by his colleagues in the House of Representatives. More than a month after the killing, Teves has remained abroad since he left the country on Feb. 28, and is now deemed a fugitive from the law. The House suspended him for 60 days for “disorderly behavior,” after he refused to return despite the expiration of his travel authority on March 9.

By refusing to come home, Teves has not only defied Speaker Martin Romualdez, but also the Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior and Local Government. He has also challenged no less than President Marcos who had offered all kinds of security arrangements for him, even a private jet that could be permitted to land at Basa Airbase in Pampanga. “To reassure him, we will provide all kinds of security, whatever he wants … He will be surrounded by soldiers. No one can come near him within a kilometer; that will guarantee his security.” Mr. Marcos said. The President even created a task force to prevent the escalation of violence in the Negros Island following Degamo’s killing.

But even with the President’s assurances, Teves’ lawyer Ferdinand Topacio said they were “not yet satisfied” as the President “cannot micromanage the situation.” Topacio said his client won’t come home unless the government grants “certain requests” about his security.

Now that is the height of arrogance. If the President himself offered to provide full government resources—not available to people of ordinary circumstances—what more can be done for Teves to return to face the music?

The Teves camp’s fear for his security is ironic, considering that numerous firearms, ammunition, and millions of cash were found and seized during raids in his home and the sugar mill owned by his brother, Pryde Henry Teves. Moreover, the police recently filed murder complaints against Teves for the 2019 killings of at least three people in Negros Oriental, including Degamo’s political ally.

The reality is that Teves doesn’t want to come back because the charges against him are serious and inevitable. The murders—of Degamo and eight supporters, as well as three people in 2019—are nothing to scoff at.

This is why the government must do everything to bring Teves back from wherever he is, and prepare for the possibility that he could flee to a foreign country with no extradition treaty with the Philippines.

If that happens, Remulla’s and Abalos’ boast that they have solved the Degamo killing will be nothing but hot air, because then Teves would have shown one and all that people like him are beyond accountability, and above the law.