• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Pryde Henry Teves, brother of expelled Negros Oriental Third District Rep. ArnolfoTeves, is running for governor of Negros Oriental under the Liberal Party (LP).
Accompanied by Dumaguete City Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo and other LP partymates, Teves submitted his certificate of candidacy at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) provincial office on Friday (Oct. 4).
Teves served as Negros Oriental governor for three months before he was unseated in 2022, after the Comelec en banc ruled in favor of the disqualification case filed by then Gov. Roel Degamo.
In March 4, 2023, Degamo and nine others died in a daring attack carried out by fully armed assassins inside his residential compound in Pamplona town.
Teves will challenge incumbent Gov. Manuel Sagarbarria.
In an interview with reporters, Teves said he is seeking to reclaim his position and plans continue the initiatives he started during his previous term.
He took his oath as LP member on Oct. 2 before Remollo, who is running for congressman of the Second District.
On the charges filed against him, Teves said he will face it all.
“I will never run away from the charges,” he added.
In June this year, Teves was released from police custody after he posted a P600,000 bail in connection with the terrorism financing cases filed against him.
The Anti-Terrorism Council designated both Teves brothers as terrorists in July last year.
Arnolfo, who is in still Timor Leste, faces multiple counts of murder, frustrated murder and attempted murder for the killing of Degamo and nine others.
The Timor-Leste Court of Appeals earlier granted the Philippines’ request for his extradition.
However, the court in September ordered for evidence to be presented again, delaying his return to the country. | GB
