The Department of Justice (DOJ) is eyeing to label suspended Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo 'Arnie' Teves as a "terrorist" to prompt him to return home to the country and surrender.
Teves, who is still abroad, is believed to have had a big role in the massacre of former Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo and eight other civilians last March 4.
"As a solution to the surrender of Mr. Teves or Congressman Teves, we are looking at designating him or prescribing him as a terrorist," DOJ Secretary Jesus Cripin 'Boying' Remulla said during a Senate hearing on Degamo's murder and other killings in Negros Island.
He said Teves will be either prescribed by the Court of Appeals (CA) or be designated by the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC).
"The activities that led to this killing on March 4 all covered under the Anti-Terror law. The recruitment, the financing, the purchase of firearms, the distribution of firearms, everything that transpired has the hallmarks of terrorism on it, Mr. Chairman," Remulla explained.
Meanwhile, in an interview with the media, the DOJ chief explained that branding Teves as a "terrorist is not red-tagging."
"It's just how the law operates. We are just making the law into our ally here in pursuit of justice for those who are murdered on March 4 in Pamplona, called the Pamplona Massacre," he added.
On the other hand, Teves, who was barred from virtually attending the Senate hearing, slammed Remulla's suggestion to label him as a "terrorist" in a separate online press briefing with his legal team.
"Sa totoo lang, nakakatawa na. Nagiging perya na. It's becoming to be a circus, 'diba?" he told the media.
"Paano ka magiging terorista kung hindi ka pa nga nakakasuhan? Sabay paano ka magiging mastermind in the first place kung there's nothing, 'diba?" Teves added.
He said that he is not expecting that there will be a "fair trial".
"Meron nang pagtuturo at paghuhusga na meron nang mastermind. So ngayon, how can you expect a free trial?" Teves added.
The Negros Oriental Congressman also belied the claim of Senator Joel Villanueva that he is presently in South Korea.
