Police appeal to public: Help us find Teves, three alleged cohorts

Expelled Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. FILE PHOTO

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) appeals to the public to report any information on the whereabouts of former Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo Teves Jr. and his three alleged cohorts.

This was according to Police Lieutenant Colonel Gerard Ace Pelare, the spokesperson of Police Brigadier General Anthony Aberin, director of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7).

READ: 28 more cases filed vs Teves – DOJ

Tapping public to help catch Teves

Pelare said that along with the PNP’s relentless operation to find Teves and his alleged cohorts, they were also asking the public to cooperate in order to catch them.

“Atoa lang hangyo sa atong mga kaigsuonan sa Negros ug sa lain lugar nga naay impormasyon mahitungod sa location aning mga wanted persons, please feel free to give information to the police station,” he said.

(We appeal to our brothers in Negros and in other areas who have information on the location of these wanted persons, please feel free to give information to the police station.)

READ: E-warrant issued for arrest of Arnolfo Teves

e-Warrant of arrest for Teves

According to a report by the Inquirer, The Manila Regional Trial Court has issued an e-warrant of arrest against Teves and three others on Tuesday, September 5, 2023, for the death of Governor Roel Degamo and nine others.

The warrant of arrest was also issued against Angelo Palagtiw, his sister “Gie Ann,” and Captain Lloyd Cruz Garcia II, who are suspected to be Teves’ cohorts on the murder.

The siblings allegedly served as lookouts while Garcia flew the helicopter that transported them from Dumaguete to Davao.

The arraignment and pre-trial for the case were set by the court on October 4.

READ: Teves: Suspect, ‘terrorist,’ now expelled lawmaker

Tracker teams to find Teves, cohorts

In order to hunt down the expelled Negros Oriental Third District Representative and the three others, the police have established tracker teams in Negros Oriental.

Pelare said that other than the four persons mentioned, the tracker team was also tasked to locate other persons with warrants of arrest for their alleged link to the Degamo case.

“Naa tay focus tracker teams diha nga gibutang para sa pagdakop sa mga naay warrants of arrest nga gigamit sa mga previous atrocities,” he said.

(We have focus tracker teams that we put there to arrest those with warrants of arrest that were used in previous atrocities.)

Pelare said that the authorities have also apprehended several alleged gun-for-hire persons who were suspected to have a connection to the previous killings in the province.

READ: Teves expelled from House; disorderly conduct, chronic absence cited

Alleged hitman killed

One of these persons is Alex Mayagma who was described by police as the No. 1 Most Wanted Person in Central Visayas.

Mayagma was an alleged hitman, who had pending warrants of arrest for four murder cases and two warrants of arrest for illegal possession of firearms.

He was also under investigation for his suspected link to the murder of Degamo and nine others in Pamplona town on March 4, 2023.

Mayagma was killed during a shootout with police on July 31, 2023 inside a game farm allegedly owned by Teves.

Pelare said that they were continuously conducting police interventions in order to locate not just Teves but all the wanted persons in the province as well.