The Department of Justice (DOJ) has commenced the hearing on the murder complaints filed against suspended Congressman Arnolfo Teves Jr. in relation to a series of killings in Negros Oriental in 2019.
During the hearing, Teves' lawyers filed a motion to dismiss the charges brought by the Philippine National Police - Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG).
According to Atty. Edward Santiago, Teves' counsel, the testimony of the sole police witness in the case is not corroborated. He argued that under the law and jurisprudence, the accusations made by a single witness are inadmissible.
"For Congressman Teves po, dahil 'yung lang po 'yung nirerepresenta namin dito, ang naging basehan po namin dito 'yung prinsipyo po ng Res inter alios acta po, ibig sabihin, inadmisssisble po kasi 'yung nag-iisang witness ng CIDG tungkol sa mga kaso na pinaparatang nila kay Congressman Teves. Basically po kasi, substantiated o uncorroborated po 'yung mga [testimonya]," he said during an ambush interview with DZRH.
Aside from Teves, the defense team of Hannah Mae Sumerano, the secretary of the congressman, also filed a motion to dismiss. Another respondent, Rolando Pinili, submitted a counter-affidavit.
According to Atty. Toby Diokno, the lawyer for Sumerano and Pinili, the extrajudicial confession of the witness did not go through the proper process.
The complaints against his clients are vague and consist only of general allegations, Diokno emphasized.
The DOJ prosecutor has given the CIDG a 10-day period to respond to the motion.
"Ten days to file the responsive pleading and binigyan din kami ng same period para sagutin kung saka-sakaling meron silang ifa-file na responsive pleading. Ito yung sa 2019 killing na sinasabi, ngayon lang binuhay after ilang years," said Diokno.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) earlier filed separate murder charges against Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. for his alleged involvement in the killing of Governor Roel Degamo last March.
Four suspects, who were allegedly behind the murder of Degamo, have earlier recanted their previous statements linking Teves in the slay case.
Teves has been out of the country since February 28. Fearing for his safety, he has refused to return home to the Philippines.
