No transfer of Teves case to Ombudsman
JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has effectively dismissed the possibility of transferring the high-profile multiple murder complaint against suspended lawmaker Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. to the Ombudsman.
He stressed that only judges can be removed from a case through a motion for inhibition.
When asked on the motion for inhibition filed by Teves’ camp, seeking the recusal of the Justice Department from handling the case involving the daylight murder of provincial governor Roel Degamo and the subsequent deaths of 10 civilians, Remulla responded replied: “We are not judges.”
In a motion for inhibition, Teves, represented by counsel Ferdinand Topacio, has requested an immediate transfer of the case to the Office of the Ombudsman, a non-political entity headed by former Supreme Court associate justice Samuel Martires.
In a chance interview with reporters, Topacio expressed concern about their camp receiving a fair treatment from the DOJ, regardless of which prosecutors handle the cases.
“Here we have a motion for inhibition. We are requesting the entire DOJ to inhibit itself from hearing Cong Teves’ case because, in our view, the Secretary of Justice has already pronounced him guilty. As we say here, which prosecutor would say there is no probable cause, effectively admitting their secretary’s mistake,” Topacio said.
“.. If you win and appeal to the SOJ (Secretary of Justice), what will happen to your appeal? It’s an exercise in futility. So that is our plea here. Perhaps, there may be some shred of decency and fair play in the secretary, that he refers it to the Ombudsman since we have grounds to conduct a preliminary investigation under the law,” Topacio said.
Teves has consistently denied any involvement in Degamo’s assassination and expressed his intention to return to the Philippines once his concerns about personal safety have been adequately addressed.
