THE Department of Justice (DOJ) is planning to ask the International Criminal Police Organization commonly known as Interpol to issue a “blue notice” against Negros Oriental Rep. Arnie Teves Jr. who is being implicated in the March 4 killing of provincial governor Roel Degamo.

A “blue notice” would notify member countries that Teves is under investigation for alleged crimes. This will allow them to gather additional information about his identity, location, or activities while the investigation is ongoing.

“It means everywhere he passes, he will be asked by Interpol question. I don’t know if they have already filed for a blue notice. I am not the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation), it’s the NBI that arranges with the Interpol,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said.

EVIDENCE AGAINST TEVES MOUNTING-REMULLA

Nine out of ten suspects now in the custody of the NBI have pointed to Rep. Teves Jr. as having “certain involvement” in the killing of Gov. Degamo, Remulla confirmed yesterday.

The DOJ secretary refused to provide further details as it may jeopardize the ongoing investigation.

“Andun ‘yun sa mga statement. The statements that were issued so far point to a certain involvement on his (end). There are nine or ten statements that we hold,” said Remulla,

He expressed confidence that the statements were enough to establish probable cause against Teves, who is currently out of the country.

However, Remulla emphasized the need to gather more evidence to strengthen the case against the lawmaker.

Teves, who underwent stem cell therapy, has denied any involvement in the March 4 assassination of Degamo, which also resulted in the deaths of eight other people.

The Negros solon requested a two-month leave of absence from Congress due to a “very grave security threat to his life and his family.”

He has promised to return “once the threat is dealt with accordingly.”

PRYDE TEVES GUN PERMITS REVOKED

The Philippine National Police Firearms and Explosives Office has revoked the License to Own and Possess Firearms or LTFOP issued to former Negros Oriental Gov. Pryde Henry Teves amid the ongoing search for guns – licensed or not- believed to have been used in the commission of many unsolved crimes in the province, including the March 4 killing of Gov. Roel R. Degamo, and eight others.

With the revocation of his LTOFP, Pryde Teves won’t be anymore allowed to acquire and possess licensed guns and would be facing charges for violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013 in case he yield even a single firearm.

The brother of suspended Negros Oriental 3rd district Rep. Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves earlier denied owning the cache of weapons and ammunition recovered by the police inside the HDJ Bayawan Agri-Venture Corporation in Bgy. Caranoche in Sta. Catalina municipality.

Apart from the guns and nearly 10,000 rounds of assorted live ammunition, officers from the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group led by Col. Hansel M. Marantan also found two vaults containing P18,926, 806 in cash inside the Teves’ compound.