DOJ eyes cancellation of Teves’ passport

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) may soon process the cancellation of suspended Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr.’s passport once murder charges over the March 4 attack in Negros Oriental are filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ), limiting the lawmaker’s movements the longer he stays overseas.

This was announced yesterday by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, who said that apart from the looming cancellation of Teves’ passport, the government is now being informed of every movement he makes with the issuance of a notice by Interpol.

“Once the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) files a case with the prosecutors, we can now seek the cancellation of the passport. But effectively, the passports are cancelled when there is already a court case. So, we will wait for our cases to be filed by the panel of prosecutors before we seek the cancellation of the passport,” Remulla told reporters.

He was referring to the multiple murder and attempted murder cases against Teves over the attack that killed governor Roel Degamo and nine others. He said these may be filed before the DOJ on Monday by the NBI.

Aside from his regular passport, Remulla said the DOJ would also try to find out whether they could cancel his diplomatic passport or whether he has a “golden passport,” a type of citizenship document given to individuals through large financial investments or purchasing real estate in another country.

“He has a diplomatic passport which we can also seek the cancellation of if it was used in his travels abroad. But we will validate that information if he used his diplomatic passport when he went to another country. Then, we can seek its cancellation. Because a diplomatic passport is not a right but a privilege given to government officials,” he said, explaining that since Teves is suspended from lawmaker duties, he “shouldn’t be using it.”

While passport cancellations and the Interpol notice may make the world smaller for Teves, Remulla stressed that he still has options, like staying in countries that offer visa-free entry or countries where he had already obtained visas, like South Korea.

“There’s already a (Interpol) notice. What’s happening now is we’re being informed of his movements by all jurisdictions. Once he enters a certain jurisdiction, they will inform us of his movements. That’s why Timor-Leste immediately informed us of his arrival,” he added.

‘Terrorist’

While the Anti-Terrorism Council has started processing Teves’ designation as a terrorist over the March 4 attack, Remulla also disclosed that his proscription would come immediately after he is designated as a terrorist.

Under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, only an organization or association of persons involved or who have committed acts of terrorism may be proscribed.

Remulla said this still covers Teves, as he said the criminal organization being tagged in the pattern of violence that has affected Negros Oriental over the years would be sought for proscription.

He said Teves heads this organization, which primarily operates gambling but may have committed terrorist acts through the years, or through financing killings that terrorized “the population of Negros Oriental.”

Meanwhile, Degamo’s widow lauded the government of Timor-Leste for rejecting Teves’ bid for asylum.

“I believe that is a very good decision of the government of East Timor,” Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo said in an interview over ANC yesterday.

Degamo said Teves should not be granted refuge by any country, given the severity of the crime he is accused of.

“What happened to my husband is not a political thing. He is pointed as the mastermind of the murder of my husband and several others,” she said.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. said more cases are expected to be filed in connection with the bloodbath that killed Degamo and nine others.

He gave assurance their investigators will not stop until the families of the victims receive closure and justice.

Members of the Special Investigation Task Group Degamo convened on Tuesday to review updates and status of the case.

The PNP said its investigators are working with the NBI in gathering all pieces of evidence to support the filing of complaints against the suspects.

Speaker Martin Romualdez yesterday discouraged Teves from seeking refuge in another country and “abandon his sworn duty to serve as member of the House of Representatives.”

“Rather than evade investigation by Philippine law enforcement agencies, Cong. Arnie should return home immediately and face the accusation against him,” he said. – Emmanuel Tupas, Sheila Crisostomo