Suspended Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo 'Arnie' Teves on Thursday, June 22 filed a motion seeking to stop the Department of Justice (DOJ) from handling the investigation of his murder complaints.
Teves is presently facing murder charges for his alleged involvement in the killing of the former Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.
The embattled Congressman, through his counsel Ferdinand Topacio, filed the urgent motion to inhibit.
"Wherefore, it is respectfully prayed that the Department of Justice, including this panel of prosecutors from further proceeding with the present preliminary investigation," the motion reads.
"It is likewise prayed that the conduct of this investigation be referred to and transferred to the Office of the Ombudsman for its continuation, until its conclusion," it added.
Kampo ni suspended Cong. Arnie Teves, Jr., naghain ng 'urgent motion to inhibit' upang mag-inhibit ang DOJ sa Degamo slay case; Ombudsman gustong pahawakin sa kaso | RH29 @boy_gonzales, DZRH News pic.twitter.com/NSChvMYAfQ
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) June 22, 2023
In an interview with the reporters, Topacio said they sought to inhibit the DOJ because its Secretary Jesus Crispin 'Boying' Remulla has already pronounced that his client is guilty of the crime.
"Ang sabi nga namin dito, sinong prosecutors pa ang magsasabi na walang probable cause because if any prosecutors say na there's no probable cause, sinasabi nilang mali ang kanilang Secretary. Sino ang prosecutor ang gagawa no'n?" he said.
"Samantala, hawak ng Secretary ang kanilang promotion, assignment, etc., lahat ng administrative process. Sympre kahit paano ay mahihirapan [ang prosecutors]," Topacio added.
Teves' legal counsel also said that their appeal may be disregarded once the DOJ panel will issue a decision that there is probable cause to indict his client.
"Anong klaseng appeal ang mangyayari kung ang Secretary ng Justice ay sinasabi na may probable cause? So, either sigurado na talo ka na sa level ng preliminary investigation or kung magka-milagro man at manalo ka at inapela sa Secretary of Justice. Ano ang mangyayari sa appeal mo? It's an exercise of infutility," Topacio pointed out.
