MANILA, Philippines – Hindi na ikinabigla ng kampo ni Negros Oriental Rep Arnulfo Teves ang terrorist tag laban sa kanya ng Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC).
Sa isang statement na ipinalabas ng kanyang legal counsel na si Atty Ferdinand Topacio sinabi nito na sa simula pa lamang ng Degamo case ay hindi na nakakuha ng patas na trato ang kanyang kliyente.
“This latest act on the part of the government against our client, Rep. Arnolfo Teves, comes as no surprise. Since Day One of the Degamo killing, the government has mobilized all the resources at its disposal — starting with immediately tagging Mr. Teves as the mastermind thereof without investigation, conducting illegal searches on his properties, laying siege to his powers and prerogatives as member of the House, embarking on a massive media campaign to discredit him and prejudice the minds of the public against him, among others — all in an obsessive attempt to blame him for a crime at the expense of his Constitutional rights” ayon sa statement.
Aniya, hindi na alam ng gobyerno ang gagawin matapos na bawiin ng mga testigo ang kanilang akusasyon laban kay Teves kaya pinakilos nito ang ACT upang idiin muli ang kongresista.
“The agencies of government, having eggs on their faces due to the recantation of all key witnesses, lack of evidence against Rep. Teves, the public backlash against his obvious persecution, and the embarrassing failure of the authorities in bullying him into returning to the country in spite of grave and serious threats to his life, has expectedly weaponized the Anti-Terror Act by using it for the purpose for which it was not designed” ayon pa sa statement.
Giit pa ni Topacio na nakalulungkot na wala nang umiiral na Rule of Law sa bansa.
“This development should send shivers down the spine of every citizen, for the liberties of none are safe unless the liberties of all are protected” ani Topacio.
Maliban kay Teves isinama din bilang terrorist ang 11 iba pa na binansagan na kabilang sa “Teves Terrorist Group”. Gail Mendoza
