Teves, 15 others slapped with terror financing raps

A complaint for alleged terrorism financing has been filed against expelled Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. and 15 others, including his brother, former Gov. Henry Pryde, and son Axl, with the Department of Justice (DOJ).

According to the subpoena issued by the DOJ prosecutors and addressed to Teves’ son Axl, the former lawmaker and his fellow respondents are facing a complaint on financing terrorism under Section 4 of Republic Act No. 10168, or the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012, as well as RA 11479, or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano, in an interview with reporters, confirmed that the latest complaint against Teves and the other respondents was filed by the National Bureau of Investigation.

“We have received a report from the Anti-Money Laundering Council, and this complaint was most likely the result of that report,” he said.

Teves, who has yet to return to the Philippines, has been designated a terrorist along with several others by the Anti-Terrorism Council in August due to alleged killings in Negros Oriental.The prosecutors had set the preliminary investigation of the new complaint on Tuesday.

“The law says that you are liable if you are financing things that have anything to do with terrorism,” said lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, who represented Teves during the hearing.

However, Topacio said he could not provide details about the accusations made against his client because he has yet to receive and read the complaint.

He said he asked the prosecution panel for a copy of the complaint during the hearing.

“They promised to provide us with copies of the complaint on Dec. 19,” he added.

The former lawmaker was recently spotted in Timor-Leste, where he sought asylum, but was denied by the Timor-Leste government.

Clavano, meanwhile, said that the DOJ has already sought the cancellation of Teves’ passport.

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Aside from the complaint pending before the DOJ, the expelled lawmaker is already facing multiple charges in courts.

Arrest warrants have already been issued against him for multiple murder charges in the killing of then Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and nine others in March in Pamplona, Negros Oriental.

Warrants of arrest have also been issued against Teves for the alleged murder of three other persons in the province in 2019.

Teves has repeatedly denied the allegations against him. INQ