PNP respects DOJ decision on Teves’ men
THE Philippine National Police (PNP) on Saturday said it is fully respecting the decision of the Department of Justice (DOJ) on a number of arrested suspects connected with 3rd District Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” A. Teves Jr. in connection with the series of anti-weapons raids in Bayawan City last week.
“The PNP fully respects the findings of the DOJ prosecutors and will abide by the legal orders as mandated in our laws. However, the PNP will not stop to pursue violators of our laws and will aggressively continue to pursue the campaign against loose firearms, especially those in the hands of private armed groups wherever they may be in the country,” said PNP Public Information Office (PNP-PIO) chief, Colonel Redrico A. Maranan.
Last March 15, the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) headed by P/Brig. Gen. Romeo M. Caramat Jr. received the DOJ resolution pertaining to the complaints for violation of Republic Act (RA) 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act of 2013 and RA 9516 or illegal possession of explosives filed against the accused in Bayawan City.
Prior to that, the PNP-CIDG simultaneously served ten search warrants for violation of RA 10591 and RA 9516 on the residences of Teves, resulting in the arrest of six suspects and the seizure of over a dozen high-powered and low-powered firearms and ammunition, and explosives.
Following the raids, DOJ prosecutors recommended the filing of criminal charges for violation of RA 10519 against one of the accused, identified as “Heracleo Oray.” However, the charges against Teves’ secretary Hannah Mae Oray were dismissed for lack of probable cause.
The DOJ also ordered that another accused be released from police custody after the department resolved that the charges against the former and Teves be referred for preliminary investigation this coming March 22 at the DOJ building in Manila.
Following the DOJ order, the PNP-CIDG immediately released Hannah Mae Oray and the other suspect from custody last Wednesday after the two underwent the procedural medical examination.
Four more respondents in separate criminal charges filed in the aftermath of the Bayawan City anti-gun raids remained under police custody. They were identified as Heracleo Oray, security guard Roland Pablia, Jojo Maturan alias “Rodolfo Teves Maturan,” and Joseph Kyle Maturan.
