CIDG bags ‘hitman’ linked to political family
A POLICEMAN accused of acting as an alleged “hitman” for the Teves family in Dumaguete City was arrested by agents of the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) right inside the PNP National Headquarters in Camp Crame on Tuesday morning, PNP-CIDG director, Brigadier General Romeo M. Caramat Jr. said Wednesday.
Members of the PNP-CIDG Detection and Special Operations Unit (DSOU), National Capital Region Field Unit (NCRFU), and the Negros Oriental Provincial Field Unit (PFU) arrested the suspect, with the rank of Staff Sergeant, 8:50 a.m. Tuesday in front of the PNP Drug Enforcement building in Camp Crame, said the official.
According to Caramat, the suspect was arrested on the strength of two warrants of arrest, one for attempted murder issued by Judge Glenda Yee-Uymatiao of the Dumaguete City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 35 and the 2nd for attempted homicide issued by Judge Dinah Tabada-Chu of the Dumaguete City RTC Branch 1.
A P120,000 bail was recommended for the temporary liberty of the accused in connection with the attempted murder case filed against him. On the other hand, the Dumaguete City RTC Branch 1 recommended a P36,000 bail for his temporary liberty in connection with the attempted homicide case.
Caramat said their investigation showed that the suspect used to be a member of the PNP-DEG (Drug Enforcement Group) Regional Office 6 who has been accused of being used by the Teveses as an alleged “hitman” for a certain “Ong” who was described as a “business rival of the Teveses.”
There was no other available information on the case provided by the PNP-CIDG. However, during a Senate hearing last April, one “Jason Ong,” the owner of a small “tocino” restaurant in Dumaguete City, said he survived an assassination attempt that he claimed was triggered by an attempt by suspected Negros Oriental (3rd District) Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves to get his business.
Ong was among the 60 people brought to the Senate by Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo, the widow of the late Negros Oriental Governor Roel R. Degamo, to testify about their experiences with killings in the province.
The arrested policeman was taken to the CIDG-DSOU office for documentation and temporary custody pending an official commitment order from the court.
“Patuloy ang pag-verify namin sa akusado na itinuturong gunman ng mga Teves upang malaman kung meron pa itong mga kinasasangkutan na kaso. Magiging patas kami sa lahat ng aming makukuhang impormasyon at sisiguraduhin na mananagot siya sa ating batas,” Caramat said.
