The three suspects, who were arrested during the raid in former governor Henry Pryde Teves' sugar mill firm, have claimed that authorities had pressured them to implicate Henry and his brother suspended Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo 'Arnie' Teves in the seized firearms and explosives.
This was disclosed by Michael Mella, the legal counsel of Henry during an interview with the media on Thursday, March 29.
"Sinasabi nila sa akin na pinipilit silang aminin na ang mga alleged firearms, na na-recovered last time during the raid, na ang nag-utos daw na ibaon 'yon ay si Congressman Teves as well as Governor Pryde," he said.
On March 17, the Philippine National Police - Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) seized several firearms, explosives, and ammunition in Henry's sugar mill compound n Barangay Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental. But authorities have yet to confirm if this has a connection to Degamo's slay case.
The Teves brothers are being tagged as the mastermind behind the killing of former Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo.
Mella also said that the suspects told him that PNP-CIDG spoke with them four times already.
"Sinasabi nila, from day one that they were arrested, there was already pressure exerted against them," he added.
Meanwhile, in an interview, Henry denied owning illegal firearms and explosives.
"I myself would want to know how it got there. We are in the business of producing sugar. We are in the business of farming. We are not in the business of guns," he said.
Earlier, Henry waived his rights under Bank Secrecy Act and allow authorities to access his bank transactions.
