CEBU, Philippines — The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-7 and the PNP Special Action Force (SAF) simultaneously raided five houses that Negros Oriental 3rd District Representative Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves, Jr. reportedly owns yesterday dawn based on the search warrant issued by a judge in Mandaue City.
Five teams executed the search warrants issued by the court in Teves’ three houses in Bawayan City and two other houses in Basay City.
The authorities recovered 15 assault rifles; several handguns; grenade launcher; hand grenade; one rifle scope; and several rounds of .45 and .40 caliber pistol bullets.
There was no resistance during the implementation of the search warrant, according to CIDG-7.
Police Col. Peter Miguel Tagtag Jr., who heads the CIDG-7, said they are not yet giving information because their operation is still ongoing, and that they will coordinate it with the Special Investigation Task Group that is focusing on the case of the murdered Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.
Teves, who is outside of the country currently, was tagged by at least two suspects as the mastermind in the shooting incident in Pamplona, Negros Oriental last March 4 that killed Degamo and eight others, while injuring 17 more.
Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos, in an interview with dzBB radio, said the raids are in connection with the killings in Negros Oriental in 2019 wherein Teves and others were charged before the Department of Justice (DOJ).
“Yung sabi nila sa akin 'yung 2019 killing. 'Yan ay inuulit ko inaprubahan ng korte,” he said.
Abalos said the operations were not related to Degamo’s murder.
In one of Teves’ Basay houses, the policemen arrested Jose Gimarangan, who was an occupant of the house.
The law enforcement operation ended at around 7:35 a.m.
The PNP has yet to release a report on the results of the raids on other properties of Teves as of Friday afternoon. (FREEMAN)