The lawyer of Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. called out Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla for branding his client a “fugitive,” saying this was “premature” and only served to “demonize” the lawmaker. /PDI .
In an ANC interview on Tuesday, Remulla said Teves was now considered a fugitive even in the absence of a warrant for his arrest.
Teves is facing separate criminal complaints filed by the police before the DOJ in connection with the 2019 killings of at least three people in Negros Oriental, including former Board Member Miguel Dungog, a Degamo ally.The Philippine National Police has also filed complaints against Teves and his sons, Kurt Matthew and Axel, with the DOJ in connection with the cache of weapons and explosives discovered in some of the lawmaker’s residential properties in the province.
“Unless in hot pursuit, we cannot arrest a person; we have to give him the light of day in court, or in the preliminary investigation,” he added.According to Topacio, Remulla’s attacks against his client would only adversely affect the complaints that the police filed against Teves with the DOJ. “They are improper because until and unless there are charges in court, the DOJ should act impartially because when there is a preliminary investigation, it acts in its capacity as a quasijudicial body to determine probable cause. It does not act as a prosecutor yet,” Topacio said.
“If you are listening to me, call us, your brothers, even our parents. Believe us, it’s better to come home. It’s not good to live your life as a fugitive,” he said, addressing his brother in an interview on GMA Regional TV.
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