Degamo to Teves lawyer: “This is about justice, not politics”

DAVAO CITY (May 29) – Congresswoman-elect Janice Degamo, widow of slain Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, condemned remarks made by Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, legal counsel for suspended Congressman Arnie Teves, called his recent statements “appalling” and “insulting to the victims of violence.”

The lawmaker issued a strongly worded statement following Topacio’s remarks, referring to Teves as a “trophy” of the Marcos administration amid renewed calls for the fugitive lawmaker’s return to the Philippines.

“It is appalling to hear Atty. Topacio continuously refers to Arnie Teves as a ‘trophy’ for the Marcos administration. Let’s set the record straight, this is not about politics, this is about justice,” Degamo said.

“Calling Arnie Teves a ‘trophy’ is a slap in the face to the families of the many innocent people killed by the Teves Terrorist Group, including my husband, Governor Roel Degamo,” she added. “These weren’t political casualties. They were sons, daughters, husbands, and wives—brutally taken from their loved ones.”

Degamo urged the defense counsel to focus on substance over spectacle, particularly on the serious allegations tying Teves to the Pamplona Massacre, which claimed the lives of Governor Degamo and nine other civilians in March 2023.

“Instead of turning every issue into a political drama, Atty. Topacio should focus on what truly matters: explaining why at least two of the gunmen who murdered my husband directly named his client as the mastermind,” she said.

The congresswoman also reaffirmed her commitment to pursuing accountability.

“That is what the people of Negros Oriental and the entire country deserve answers to. We will not be distracted. We will not be silenced. We will see this through.”

Degamo’s statement follows the recent announcement by the Government of Timor-Leste signaling its intent not to provide a haven for fugitives, including Teves, who has been staying in the country while evading arrest. She earlier praised Timorese authorities for their “courage and clarity” in aligning with the principles of justice and the rule of law.

Teves, declared a terrorist by the Anti-Terrorism Council, has been indicted for multiple murder and illegal possession of firearms cases, and remains a fugitive from Philippine justice.