JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla yesterday said government prosecutors are preparing subpoenas for Negros Oriental Rep. Arnie Teves and several others over the killing of a politician and two others in 2019.
Remulla said a panel of prosecutors was formed to conduct the preliminary investigation on the complaints filed by the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group on behalf of the victims’ families.
“The case has been assigned to a panel of prosecutors. Subpoenas will be issued soon. There will be a preliminary investigation. Of course, due process must be observed. We can’t issue a warrant of arrest. It has to go through due process,” Remulla said.
The Justice Secretary said Teves, alias “Hanna Mae,” Richard Cuadra, Jasper Tanasan alias “Bobong” Tanasan, and Rolando Pinili were charged with two counts of murder while Alex Mayagma was charged with one count of murder.
All respondents are residents of Poblacion, Basay, Negros Oriental except for “Hanna Mae,” who lives in Tinastasan Malabugas, Bayawan City.
Records showrd victims Miguel Lopez Dungog, a former Board member of the 3rd district of Negros Oriental, Lester Pialgao Bato, and Pacito Retes Libron, were killed on different occasions.
Dungog was killed on March 25, 2019 in front of Siliman Medical Center in Dumaguete City while Bato was murdered the following day in Bgy. Nagbo-alao in Basay. Libron was shot dead on June 23, 2019 in Bgy. Malabugas, Bayawan City.
The charges against Teves and his co-respondents were following the confession of alleged gunman Gemuel Hobro.
According to Hobro, he was with a group of gunmen who executed Dungog and that Teves ordered the hit, while “Hanna Mae” paid them P50,000 for their operational expenses.
He added that they were the ones responsible for killing Bato and Teves ordered the assassination of Libron.
