President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday reiterated his call for Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnulfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. to come home and face the criminal cases against him, reassuring him that the administration is willing to provide all kinds of security for him.
“But anyway, if to reassure him, we’ll provide all kinds of security kung anong gusto mo. Mayaman ka naman. May private jet ka naman eh. Mag-landing ka kung saan mo gusto, papaligiran – sa Air Force base. Mag-landing siya sa Basa, papaligiran natin ng sundalo, walang makalapit na isang kilometro. So that – that will guarantee his security,” President Marcos said in a media interview after attending the 126th Founding Anniversary of the Philippine Army in Taguig City.
The President also dismissed reports on the supposed threat on the life of the Negros Oriental legislator based on the intelligence information the Office of the President has been getting.
“Well, I have no direct contact with him. Ang nakakausap niya is the Speaker (Martin Romualdez) dahil ‘yun ang Speaker niya. So he’s the leader of the House, nakakausap niya. And ganoon pa rin ang sinasabi niya may banta daw sa buhay niya. Kami naman sa intelligence, the best intelligence we have is that we are not – we don’t know of any threat. Saan manggagaling ‘yung threat?,” the Commander-in-Chief stressed.
President Marcos also pointed out that the sooner Teves will come home and face the criminal raps, the better for him as he would have more available options for his defense.
“So we have made all of these offers pero syempre hindi pa siya nagde-decide. But the advice, the only advice I can give to Cong. Arnie is that habang tumatagal ito, mas nagiging mahirap ang sitwasyon mo. So mas maaga kang makauwi, mas marami pang option ang mangyayari,” the President explained.
“Pero pagka masyado ng late, wala na, mapipilitan na ang gobyerno. We will have to move without any discussions with him,” President Marcos said.
Teves is considered a “person of interest” in the killing of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo last March 4 inside his provincial residence in Pamplona.
Eight other persons were killed when heavily-armed men opened fire at the victims while Degamo was distributing aid to local beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). (PND)
