CEBU, Philippines — Former Negros Oriental governor Pryde Henry Teves and three of his security personnel will be charged with illegal possession of firearms after the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) seized more unregistered firearms from a compound allegedly owned by him in Barangay Caranoche, Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental.
Pryde Henry is the brother of suspended Negros Oriental Third District Rep. Arnie Teves, who is facing investigation in relation to the murder of Governor Roel Degamo earlier this month in Pamplona town.
Aside from firearms, authorities also recovered about P19 million in cash from vaults found in the subject area.
CIDG legal officer Police Colonel Thomas Valmonte said they were able to find six more firearms Friday night at the property in Barangay Caranoche, Sta. Catalina town, including a sugar mill operated by HDJ Bayawan Agri-Venture Corp. where Pryde Henry reportedly sits as president.
These firearms were on top of the 10 others earlier seized in the same place.
“From 10, may nadagdag because we continued our search because as you know, the sugar mill is consisting of how many square kilometers. So nag-cocontinue kami ng search… Kagabi may nakuha kami na six more firearms,” Valmonte said in a report broadcast via GMA-7 Balitang Bisdak.
A total of 16 firearms, including some pistols and three long arms, have been reported to have been recovered so far.
Over 4,000 pieces of ammunition for different calibers have also been found in the compound.
Valmonte also disclosed that they found close to P19 million cash inside a vault, as well as documents in relation to the last elections.
“We found a vault in one of the premises…Actually, there are two vaults… Since we are looking for the firearms, they were opened and eventually, we found out it has money in it and some documents,” he said.
Regarding the documents, CIDG is still looking further into their contents and nature.
3 Arrested
The inventory of those found so far has already concluded and CIDG is now preparing for the inquest of three persons who arrested at the compound, one of whom was the alleged chief security of Henry Teves.
Henry and three persons arrested earlier will all be charged with illegal possession of firearms.
“He (Henry Teves) will be charged also because based on the documents that are available to our disposal, he is the one in control of the premises, the case is same (as the three alleged security personnel) — illegal possession of firearms,” Valmonte said.
At the moment, Valmonte said they are still contemplating on where to file the cases against Henry Teves and the rest.
The seized firearms, on the other hand, will be transported to Camp Crame.
As of this writing, the search still continues until everything has been covered.
Earlier, Valmonte clarified that the raid was not related to the controversies involving the suspended congressman Teves, brother of Pryde Henry, and that this was part of the CIDG's flagship program against illegal firearms known as “Oplan Paglalansag” instead.
Rep. Teves has been tagged as the mastermind in the Pamplona massacre that killed Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo and eight others and one of the respondents in a criminal complaint filed in connection with several killings that occurred in the province in 2019.
Pryde Henry was declared winner in the last gubernatorial race against Degamo but was unseated after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) ruled in favor of the latter in his election protest.
Warrant
Operatives from the CIDG RFU 7 and RFU NCR, together with Special Action Forces, the Philippine National Police local units and the Philippine army, jointly enforced the warrant against Henry Teves issued by Hon. Allan Francisco Garciano, executive judge of 7th Judicial Region in Mandaue City on March 23, 2023.
"The said operation led to the arrest of three (3) individuals identified as Nigel Lagunay Electona, Chief Security HDJ, Tolong, Brgy. Caranoche, Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental, Jeson Baillo Timtim, Security Guard Tolong compound and Dionilo Estoconing Mayagma Jr., Firetruck Driver HDG, Tolong, Caranoche, Sta. Catalina," according to the statement.
"While the above-named subject of the warrant was not in the area during the operation," it added.
The following pieces of evidence were said to have been recovered in the premises:
•6 pieces rifles of various caliber
•9 pieces pistols of various caliber
•9,615 rounds live ammunition of different calibers
•207 pieces fired bullets of different calibers
•45 pieces of steel and plastic magazines of different calibers
•assorted accessories of different caliber of firearms
•P18 million (bills in different denominations)
•several identification and ATM cards and documents
•assorted pieces of other evidence
This comes as Arnolfo is facing similar complaints over "loose firearms and explosives," the latter being tagged by suspects as the "mastermind" behind the recent killing of Degamo. Pryde Henry is a known political rival of Degamo.
To this day, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and House Speaker Martin Romualdez are pleading with Arnolfo Teves to come home to the Philippines to face various complaints filed against him.
"The recent search was done well and was witness by local officials and employees of HDJ Agri-ventures Corp.," asserted CIDG Director PBGen Romeo Caramat Jr. in Filipino.
"Likewise, the search was recorded using an Alternative Recording Device in order to comply with the Rules on the Use of Body-Worn Cameras in implementing a search warrant. We are serious in our campaign against illegal instruments and we will continue implementing the law as we pursue everyone who violates it," he added.
All the arrested individuals were brought to the CIDG Regional Field Unit 7 for documentation and proper disposition.
The confiscated firearms will then be submitted to the PNP Firearms and Explosive Office to verify their registration.