MANILA, Philippines – HINDI pa rin itinuturing ng Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) na isang pugante si Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. sa kabila ng tinawag na itong terorista.
Ang paliwanag ni Department of Justice Assistant Secretary at kasalukuyang Deputy Spokesperson Mico Clavano na wala pa naman kasing warrant of arrest na ipinalalabas laban kay Teves para ikonsidera siya bilang isang pugante.
“(Teves) is not considered a fugitive, a sthis is separate and distinct from a criminal action. Its is only when you are issued a warrant of arrest that you become a fugitive or your status becomes fugitive,” ayon kay Clavano.
“Right now, he is a terrorist, but that’s a far as he goes,” ayon pa rin kay Clavano.
Si Teves at ang kapatid nitong si Pryde Henry Teves at 11 iba pa ay binansagan bilang mga terorista ng ATC sa pamamagitan ng Resolution No. 63 na may petsang July 26.
Nauna rito, base sa probable cause at matibay na commitment, opisyal na hinirang ng ATC ang mga indibiduwal at grupo na nagbibigay ng matinding banta sa kapakanan ng bansa.
“First, the Maute Group has long been identified as a terrorist organization with ties to the ISIL and a history of violence culminating in the devastating Marawi Siege in 2017. The designation of Hafidah Romato Maute and Nahara Khairiya Sittie Hamim as terrorists further solidify our resolve to combat terrorism at its roots,” ayon kay Clavano.
Ang National Security Council sa pangunguna ni National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, Vice Chair ng ATC, suportado ang sumusunod na indibiduwal bilang terorista sa ilalim ng Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020:
1. Hafida Romato Maute, asawa ni dating Amir of the Islamic-East Asia, Abu Zacharia, para sa paglabag sa Section IV, Section VI at pag-facilitate ng commission of terrorism sa ilalim ng Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.
2. Nahara Khairiya Sittie Hamim, asawa ni Abu Mursid, sub-leader sa finance at logistics officer ng kaparehong organisasyon, para sa paglabag sa Section IV ng Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.
3. Congressman Arnie Teves at ang kanyang armadong grupo bilang terrorist organization.
“Section XXV of RA 11479 bestows on the Anti-Terrorism Council the power to designate a person or an organization as a terrorist, making the power and the process executive in nature,” ayon sa Clavano.
“We wish to emphasize that the killings in the province of Negros Oriental must not be taken as isolated incidence of violence unrelated to each other. These killings reveal an unmistakable pattern of being meticulously planned and executed to ensure the maximum effect on the population of Negros Oriental. The evidence gathered by the ATC compels us not to treat the killings, abuses and the acquisition of high-powered firearms and explosives as independent and isolated crimes because these acts are not committed just to cause injury to people or the grab property. These violent acts were motivated by the underlying objectives to intimidate the residents of Negros Oriental and create an atmosphere of and spread the message of fear, and he is using his position in government to thoroughly control the province through fear and intimidation,” litaniya nito.
Nilinaw din nito na ang paghirang at pagtawag kay Congressman Arnie Teves at sa armadong grupo ay “not solely premised on the assassination of Governor Degamo, rather the killing of Governor Degamo and his supporters helped the Anti-Terrorism Council established the pattern of violent activities that warrant his designation and that of his group as a terrorist organization.”
Ang paghirang ay kailangan para tugunan ang bant ani Teves Group sa seguridad at kapakanan ng bansa lalo na ang mga nakatira sa Negros Oriental.
“In conclusion, the designation of Cong. Teves and his armed group as a terrorist organization is a significant step towards addressing the presence of private armed groups in the country as it sends a clear message against them. Furthermore, it brings us closer to the goal of combating impunity as these designations seek to hold accountable those who perpetrate acts of terrorism and violence in our country. The designation of the Maute and Teves groups as terrorists serve as strong signal that the government is prepared to take decisive measures against any individual or organization that poses a threat to the safety and security of our citizens,” aniya pa rin.
Nauna rito, Sa Resolution No. 43 ng Anti-Terrorism Commission , si Teves at iba pang indibidwal ay lumabag sa Sections 4, 6, 10 at 12 ng Anti-Terrorism Act batay sa sa mga nakalap na ebidensiya ng gobyerno.
Kabilang sa mga idineklarang terorista ay sina Pryde Henry Teves, Nigel Elctona, Hannah Mae Sumero Oray, Marvin Miranda, Rogelio Antipolo, Rommel Pattaguan,Winrich Isturis, John Louie Ganyon, Dahniel Lora, Eulogio Gonyon, Tomasino Aledro at Joemarie Catubay.
Ayon sa Anti-Terrorism Council, si Congressman Teves umano ang mastermind sa Teves terrorist group at sangkot sa ilang insidente ng mga pagpatay at pananakot umano saNegros Oriental na nagdulot ng takot sa publiko sa kanilang lugar.
Tinukoy sa resolusyon ng ATC ang paglusob umano ng armadong grupo na nagpanggap bilang mga sundalo sa tahanan ni Governor Degamo.
Bukod sa Degamo killing ay marami pa umanong mga insidente ng pagpatay at pananakot ang nangyari sa Negros Oriental na ang itinuturong nasa likod ay ang grupo ng kongresista.
Nakasaad sa resolusyon ng ATC na ang mga insidente ng pagpatay at harassment sa lalawigan ay hindi maituturing na isolated at random incident dahil lumabas sa evaluation na may pattern ng organisadong aksiyon, planado at may intensiyon na maghatid ng takot at terorismo.
Ang resolusyon ay inaprubahan noong July 26, 2023 at pirmado nina Executive Secretary at Anti-Terrorism Council Chairman Lucas Bersamin, National Security Adviser at ATC Vice-Chairman Eduardo Ano, at Retired General Ricardo de Leon na director General ng National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) at Head ng ATC Secretariat. Kris Jose
