DOJ: Teves assets to be frozen soon

CEBU, Philippines — Even if suspended Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. has been designated as terrorist by the government, only the freezing of his assets could be done as no arrest warrants could be issued without a terrorist proscription from the Court of Appeals (CA), the Department of Justice (DOJ) said yesterday.

While he did not reveal the next steps to be taken by the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC), DOJ and ATC spokesperson Mico Clavano said that the ATC may file a proscription case before the CA against the designated terrorist groups.

However, he said “at this point I just like to emphasize that designation is the only step the ATC has taken so far… Proscription has not been taken by the ATC.”

Last May, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Teves’ proscription would come immediately after he is designated as a terrorist, stressing that even if only an organization may be proscribed under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, this would still cover Teves as his alleged criminal organization being tagged in the pattern of violence that has affected Negros Oriental over the years would be sought for proscription.

Under the Anti-Terrorism Act, only those proscribed could be ordered arrested.

Clavano said designation only goes as far as freezing assets.

“At this point, the only consequence of a designation, according to the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, is that his assets will be frozen by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC). This is purely preparatory for other remedies that the government can take against the designee,” Clavano said in an interview over CNN Philippines.

The government is expected to freeze this week all the assets of Teves and 12 other persons––including his brother Pryde Henry––following their designation as terrorists over deadly gun violence in the province in 2019 and this year.

“This type of process is meant to be quick; it’s meant to be fast precisely because we want to prevent the dissipation of assets,” Clavano added.

Aside from the Teves brothers, designated as terrorists were alleged bagman Marvin Miranda, ex-soldiers Rogelio C. Antipolo,  Rommel Pattaguan, Winrich B. Isturis, John Louie Gonyon, Dahniel Lora, Eulogio Gonyon Jr.––who were just among the 10 ex-soldiers accused of carrying out the deadly March 4 attack that killed former Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo and nine others.

Also included were Tomasino Aledro, Nigel Electona, Jomarie Catubay, and Hannah Mae Sumero Oray––who were Teves’ co-accused in the multiple murder cases over the 2019 killings in the province. — Neil Jayson Servallos, Philippine Star News Service, FPL (FREEMAN)