I will control him if he uses this for grandstanding
In the Philippines, a congressman accused of orchestrating a governor's assassination has agreed to face his country's Senate — not in person, but through a screen from an undisclosed location abroad. The March 4 killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo has drawn the machinery of the state into a reckoning that now must cross borders to find its answers. That a sitting legislator stands named as the alleged architect of a public official's murder, and that accountability must be pursued through a digital window, speaks to the fragile and complicated nature of justice when power and geography conspire to complicate it.
- A congressman named by the DOJ as the 'executive producer' of a governor's assassination remains abroad, beyond the physical reach of Philippine authorities, as the Senate prepares to question him.
- Teves has been outside the country since late February on an expired travel authorization, triggering a 60-day congressional suspension and leaving his exact whereabouts — reportedly Cambodia — unconfirmed.
- Rather than wait for his return or risk his outright absence, Senate investigators have accepted a virtual appearance, a pragmatic concession that trades presence for at least some form of testimony on record.
- Senator Dela Rosa, chairing the probe, has pledged to keep firm control of the proceedings, openly wary that Teves may use the platform as a stage for public defense rather than genuine accountability.
- The investigation draws testimony from the DOJ, the DILG, and the Philippine National Police — three agencies whose findings will collectively shape the public's understanding of who ordered Degamo's death and why.
A congressman accused of masterminding a governor's murder has agreed to appear before the Philippine Senate — but only through a screen, from somewhere abroad. Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo Teves Jr. confirmed through his office that he will attend virtually when Senator Ronald Dela Rosa's committee opens its probe next week into the March 4 assassination of Governor Roel Degamo and related killings of government officials.
Teves has been outside the Philippines since late February, carrying a House travel authorization that expired just nine days after his departure. His prolonged absence triggered an automatic 60-day suspension from Congress. By mid-April, the Justice Secretary placed him in Cambodia, though his precise location remained uncertain to those monitoring his movements.
Dela Rosa confirmed Teves's commitment to appear remotely, noting that the congressman's office had formally notified his secretariat. But the senator made clear he would not allow the session to become a spectacle — he would control the flow of testimony and prevent what he called grandstanding. His framing of the investigation as a search for truth from multiple perspectives suggested an awareness that Teves would likely offer a counter-narrative to the DOJ's damning characterization of him as an 'executive producer' of the assassination.
The probe will draw testimony from the DOJ, the Department of Interior and Local Government, and the Philippine National Police. Degamo's killing in early March shook Negros Oriental's political world, and the decision to accept virtual testimony rather than demand Teves's physical presence reflected a pragmatic calculation: better to have his account on record, however remotely delivered, than to risk silence. What emerges from the tension between Teves's opportunity to speak and Dela Rosa's determination to control the proceedings will define how the public comes to understand not just one congressman's alleged role, but the deeper question of who ordered a governor's death.
A congressman accused of orchestrating a governor's murder has agreed to answer questions from the Philippine Senate—but he will do so from abroad, speaking through a screen. Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo Teves Jr. confirmed through his office that he will attend virtually when Senator Ronald Dela Rosa's committee opens its investigation next week into the March 4 assassination of Governor Roel Degamo and related killings of government officials.
Teves has been outside the country since late February, armed with a travel authorization from the House that expired nine days after he left. His absence triggered an automatic 60-day suspension from his congressional seat. As of mid-April, the Justice Secretary stated that Teves was in Cambodia, though the congressman's exact location remained unclear to those tracking his movements.
Dela Rosa, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, confirmed Teves's commitment to appear remotely in a text message and in remarks to reporters. The senator said Teves's office had notified his own secretariat of the intention to participate. What happens when Teves does appear remains an open question. Dela Rosa signaled he would not tolerate what he called grandstanding—he would moderate the proceedings, he said, and control the flow of testimony. But he also indicated a willingness to hear what Teves has to say, framing the investigation as an effort to gather evidence from multiple perspectives.
The stakes are substantial. The Department of Justice has identified Teves not merely as a suspect but as one of the architects behind Degamo's killing, using language that suggested a directing role—calling him an "executive producer" of the assassination. The probe will include testimony from officials across three major agencies: the DOJ itself, the Department of Interior and Local Government, and the Philippine National Police. Each brings its own investigative findings and theories about how the governor came to be shot dead in his home province.
Degamo's death in early March sent shockwaves through Negros Oriental's political establishment. That a sitting congressman would be implicated, and that he would be abroad when the Senate moved to question him, added layers of complexity to an already volatile situation. The decision to allow virtual testimony rather than demand Teves's physical presence in Manila suggested a pragmatic approach—getting his account on record, even if remotely, rather than waiting for his return or risking his non-appearance.
Dela Rosa's framing of the investigation as a search for truth from "both sides" indicated an awareness that Teves would likely maintain his innocence or offer an alternative narrative to the DOJ's theory. The senator's repeated emphasis on his own control over the proceedings suggested concern that Teves might use the platform to mount a public defense rather than submit to genuine questioning. What emerges from that tension—between Teves's opportunity to speak and Dela Rosa's determination to prevent manipulation—will shape how the public understands not just the congressman's role, but the broader question of who ordered the governor's death and why.
Notable Quotes
We are there to hear both sides so let's listen to him— Senator Ronald Dela Rosa
If I see that he is using my committee for grandstanding, I will control him— Senator Ronald Dela Rosa
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why would a congressman accused of orchestrating a murder agree to testify at all, especially from abroad?
Because refusing would look worse. Virtual attendance lets him appear cooperative without the risk of arrest or physical confrontation. It's a calculated move.
But the Justice Department has already called him an "executive producer" of the killing. What could he possibly say that changes that?
That's the question Dela Rosa is asking too. Maybe Teves claims he was framed, or that his political enemies fabricated evidence. The point is to get it on record—his version, their version, and let the evidence speak.
Dela Rosa says he'll "control" the proceedings if Teves tries to grandstand. Does that mean the senator doesn't trust him?
It means Dela Rosa understands what's at stake. A congressman accused of murdering a governor isn't going to sit quietly and answer questions. He'll try to shape the narrative. The senator is saying: not on my watch.
What happens if Teves simply doesn't show up, virtual or otherwise?
Then the Senate has his absence on record, and it becomes evidence of evasion. Either way, his credibility takes a hit. Showing up is the lesser of two bad options for him.
And the other government officials being called—what are they expected to contribute?
Their investigations. The DOJ has its theory, the police have their evidence, Interior has its own intelligence. The Senate is trying to stitch together a complete picture from all the pieces they've gathered.