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Degamo's wife welcomes Teves passport cancellation

JOSE CARRETERO

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/20230322-teves.jpg.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Former Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. <strong id="isPasted"><em>File photo</em></strong></span></span></span></div><p>One step closer to victory.</p><p>This is how Pamplona, Negros Oriental Mayor Janice Degamo, the wife of slain Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, reacted on the order of the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 15 on the immediate cancellation of the Philippine passport of former Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves. </p><p>The decision of the court was released on February 8, 2024.</p><p>“Ngayon nakikita na natin na talagang sana ito may patutunguhan na, because the cancellation of his passport is really a big thing, it truly will make his world really small, talagang liliit ang mundo niya,” Degamo said.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/2/9/nbi-told-to-find-teves-as-court-orders-cancellation-of-passport-1928">NBI told to find Teves as court orders cancellation of passport</a></div><p>She said this would also provide closure for the relatives of those who were killed during the assassination of Degamo.</p><p>Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said victims have long sought for the cancellation of Teves&#x27; passport.</p><p>“Well ganito lang iyan, sa pagkansela ng passport ni Mr. Teves, walang makakaligtas sa hustisya tandaan niyo yan, sooner or later maski saan ka magpunta saan ka magtago hahanapin ka ng batas at mananagot ka sa kasalanan mo, at iyan ang sinasabi natin sa ating mga kababayan. Nangyari ito last year tayo&#x27;y nabigla sa lahat ng ito, sinasabi ng taong bayan, nasaan ang hustisya, heto na po ang hustisya, nandiyan na,” Abalos said.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/29/23/teves-co-accused-in-degamo-slay-plead-not-guilty">Teves&#x27; co-accused in Degamo murder cases plead not guilty</a></div><p>The court decision ordered the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to immediately cancel the passport of Teves, who is believed to be hiding in Timor Leste. </p><p>The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) was also ordered to facilitate the return of Teves to the country. </p><p>Teves&#x27; lawyer, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, said they would appeal the decision.</p><p>“For one, we can always file a motion for reconsideration before the same court that granted the motion of the Department of Justice to cancel the passport and failing to get from that we can always go to higher judicial authority. Rest assured we will exhaust all legal means to seek justice for our client, and we will let the court decide on the outcome of this appeal,” he said.</p><p>He claimed the passport cancellation has no basis.</p><p>“Technically speaking, there are no grounds for cancellation because there are only three grounds: if you acquired the passport in fraudulent means, which is not alleged here, or if a passport holder has been convicted of any crimes, which is also not the situation in this case,” he said.</p><p>Topacio also said his client still plans to return to the Philippines.</p><p>“He is planning to do that. He is a Filipino citizen; he has obligations to his constituency, he is a member of the House of Representatives. But he will go back when he feels that the danger or the threats to his life have abated and he was able to get impartial and fair justice from the executive branch of the government,” Topacio claimed.</p><p>In August 2023, Teves was unanimously expelled by the House of Representatives due to abandonment of duty, prolonged absence, and &quot;indecent behavior on social media.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/08/21/23/arnie-teves-from-self-confessed-reformed-drug-user-to-expelled-lawmaker">Arnie Teves: From self-confessed reformed drug user to expelled lawmaker</a></div><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/16/23/house-expels-teves-over-abandonment-of-office">House expels Teves from lawmaker duties over &#x27;abandonment of office&#x27;</a></div><p>Meanwhile, Mayor Degamo said she is a bit disappointed with the progress of her husband&#x27;s case.</p><p> “Yung nga yung palagi kong sinasabi na while we appreciate very much the due process, kung paano kinu-conduct yung paghingi ng hustisya, talagang trying to be fair on all sides pero sa totoo lang yung due process is very favorable dun sa mga culprit, sa side ng mga victims talagang ah talagang masasabi rin namin it&#x27;s really quite a long way. While I do not want to be discouraged because I can also see the government trying to help us solve our problem with the criminal acts done by Congressman Teves in Negros Oriental, but we cannot also help but still a little bit disappointed na talagang medyo slow lang talaga yung takbo ng kaso because siguro nga talaga sa due process ganon eh,” she said.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1i_T0Ckpxkk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said the victims have long sought for the cancellation of Teves' passport.</p>

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said the victims have long sought for the cancellation of Teves' passport.