Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr. on Monday shut down the allegations that he and his family were behind the brutal murder of former Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.
In a 16-minute video statement posted on his Facebook page, he said that if he really wanted to kill Degamo, he should have ordered it before the local and national elections last year.
“Anong motibo ko ngayon gagawin? Hindi rin magiging benepisyaryo ako at ang kapatid ko dahil kung mawala ang gobernador, ang uupo naman ay vice governor,” Teves, who is currently undertaking some stem cell treatment abroad, said.
“Hindi naman ang kapatid ko na talagang nanalo noong eleksyon pero hindi ko alam anong magic ang nangyari na pinapababa sa puwesto ang aking kapatid… Sa totoo lang, wala kaming makukuhang benepisyo sa nangyari dito,” he added.
Teves’ brother Pryde Henry was Degamo's political opponent during the May 2022 elections.
Henry won the provincial governor post but he stepped down after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Special Board of Canvassers proclaimed Degamo as the true winner in October 2022.
The poll body cancelled Grego Gaudia’s certificate of candidacy for failing to present proof that he is legitimately named as “Ruel Degamo”. After Gaudia was declared as nuisance candidate, the votes he obtained were transferred to Degamo, which enabled him to surpass Henry.
Last month, the Supreme Court affirmed the Comelec’s decision to declare Degamo as the Negros Oriental governor.
Meanwhile, Teves questioned the lack of security in Degamo's residence, citing that the assailants barged in easily and shot the latter as seen in closed-circuit camera (CCTV) footage.
“Sa aking sariling pag-aanalisa, parang magkakilala sila [assailants] nu'ng [taong] nasa gate, at hindi lang iyon, nakapasok nang wala man lang konting resistance,” he added.
The Negros Oriental Congressman then extended his sympathies to the loved ones of Degamo.
“Si Kuya Arnie, nakikiramay sa pamilya ng namatayan dahil masakit mamatayan ng kapamilya," he said.
On Saturday morning, the former Negros Oriental governor and nine other civilians were shot dead by men clad in pixelized uniforms and in full gear.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Army have arrested the three suspects during a pursuit operation in Bayawan City, Negros Oriental.
The fourth suspect, on the other hand, was killed in an encounter with authorities.
Hours after Degamo was confirmed dead, Negros Oriental Vice Governor Carlo Jorge Joan Reyes assumed the gubernatorial position.
