The murder of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo along with eight other provincial government officials last March 14 may have been declared case closed by the Department of Justice after having arrested 11 suspects who eventually identified Negros Oriental Representative Arnie Teves as the mastermind and it is now up to the prosecution to ensure that justice is served. Unfortunately, the identified mastermind is still on the loose and is enjoying his freedom somewhere.
Last June 5, Teves posted on his Facebook page a 59-seconder video showing him wearing only an undershirt and a boxer short dancing to the tune of budots. He started the video saying that it is the newest training of terrorists. He was branded a terrorist by the Anti-Terrorism Council through a resolution made public last August 1. It identified a Teves Terrorist Group with the congressman as its head and tagged as responsible for the murder of Degamo and many others before.
The House Ethics Committee investigating Teves showed the video of Teves’ dancing during its hearing. In our language, the act of Teves could be best described as “kabalan” and “palaban.” He then managed to write the committee explaining that his dancing video was not meant to ridicule the House and the ethics committee but rather an expression of his freedom guaranteed by the Constitution. He further explained that he made the video to laugh at the efforts of the current administration to paint him as a terrorist.
Looking further, however, at the manner and demeanor of Teves, he simply does not take seriously the mess he got himself into. He seems confident that he can eventually get off the hook. While on the side of his colleagues, the investigation that they are conducting has not in any manner tamed and worried Teves.
As he faces criminal prosecution, the same attitude of Teves could be observed. While many suspected persons of having committed a crime are sober in their behavior, Teves has shown only arrogance and the lack of interest in clearing his and his family’s name.
In the end, it will be the apprehended suspects and players who will suffer. Sadly, Degamo is dead and justice will stay elusive as his opponent is simply too powerful and has a lot of resources to sustain his hiding until everybody gets tired and the interest to prosecute Teves fades and compromises are done to further political interests.
