Former Negros Oriental Rep Arnolfo Teves after he was arrested by Timor-Leste authorities. Photo courtesy NBI/File

MANILA -- The Department of Justice and the camp of former Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo Teves are no longer allowed to release statements regarding the Degamo case.

This, after the Manila Regional Trial Court issued a gag order on the case, according to DOJ Spokesperson Atty. Mico Clavano.

According to Clavano, this is appropriate because the evidence should be presented in court.

"Hindi na tayo dapat magsasalita sa social media, sa mainstream media, kung saan saan pa. Ang labanan talaga dapat ay on the legal side of thing which is in court," said Clavano.

[We should not be speaking on social media, mainstream media, or elsewhere. The real battle should be on the legal side, which is in court.]

"The gag order was issued by our judge here in the Philippines, so we are no longer allowed to mention or discuss matters that go into the merits of the case. We trust and respect that decision because we know that the proper process is to go through the court immediately," Clavano added.

Teves faces murder cases over the killing of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo in March 2023.

Clavano also assured that the government is still closely monitoring Teves, who remains in Timor Leste. Teves was previously removed from house arrest by the Timorese Central Authority.

READ: Teves released, re-arrested in Timor Leste

READ: Justice official reiterates Teves still in Timor-Leste police custody

"He is under close monitoring sa Timor Leste, mayroon po tayong authorities, law enforcement agencies sa Timor Leste na 24 hours na nakaabang sa kanya. We are closely monitoring him because of the flight risk that he is," said Clavano.

[He is under close monitoring in Timor Leste. We have authorities and law enforcement agencies there watching him 24 hours a day. We are closely monitoring him because he is a flight risk.]

According to Clavano, the court order includes requiring Teves to appear in court every two days.

"At the end of this whole process, nasa tail end na po tayo maibalik natin si Ginoong Teves dito sa Pilipina para iharap ang mga kaso na inihain laban sa kanya," said Clavano.

[At the end of this whole process, we are near the end and hope to bring Mr. Teves back to the Philippines to face the charges against him.]

Clavano assured that Teves will not be able to leave Timor Leste despite his release from house arrest.

"He will be prevented from leaving. He is stil under the court processes, meaning kailangan siyang lumitaw o magpakita sa korte everytime he is called to do so, kapag may hearing," Clavano explained.

[He will be prevented from leaving. He is still under the court processes, meaning he needs to appear in court every time he is called to do so, during hearings.]

Clavano also thanked Timor Leste for allowing the government to participate in the court proceedings.

"We plan to present two witnesses pero kahit dalawa lang ang nag-testify, sapat na daw iyon at satisfied na sila doon sa mga testimonies ng dalawa. We are hoping for very favorable decision para po makauwi na si Ginoong Teves," said Clavano.

[We plan to present two witnesses, and even though only two testified, they said it was sufficient and they were satisfied with the testimonies. We are hoping for a very favorable decision so Mr. Teves can return home.]

READ: DOJ confirms Teves release from house arrest in Timor Leste

-- HUMAN RIGHTS -- 

Clavano described the defense presented by Teves' camp as desperate, due to their allegedly questionable arguments in court.

"Ang defense kasi ng kabilang kampo, yung human rights efforts natin dito sa Pilipinas ay hindi sapat. Hindi daw safe ang kantang buhay dito sa Pilipinas dahil papatayin daw siya. Pangalawa, nag-testify sila na may death penalty daw tayo which we know is not true, it's been suspended, said Clavano.

[The defense claims that our human rights efforts here in the Philippines are insufficient. They argue that his life is not safe here because he would be killed. Secondly, they testified that we have the death penalty, which we know is not true as it has been suspended.]

"We can really see they are grasping at straws, desperado na sila, iyong mga defenses sila, yung mga argument nila ay sinungaling na . Hindi nila pinapakita yung katotohanan sa proceeding na ito kaya madaling madaling i-oppose at i-justify na dito sa Pilipinas, wala tayong death penalty at inaalagaan naman natin ang human rights natin," Clavano stressed.

[We can really see they are grasping at straws. They are desperate; their defenses and arguments are lies. They are not showing the truth in these proceedings, which is why it is easy to oppose and justify that here in the Philippines, we do not have the death penalty, and we do take care of our human rights.]

Meanwhile, Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo expressed her family's hope that Teves would be extradited to the country as soon as possible.

"We are trying to hold on to our hope na mapapauwi talaga yung mastermind of the killing," she said.

[We are trying to hold on to our hope that the mastermind of the killing will be brought back to the country.]

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