MANILA (UPDATED) — The Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) has designated suspended Negros Oriental Third District Rep. Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr. as a terrorist for allegedly masterminding the March 4 bloodbath that killed Gov. Roel Degamo and 9 others.

The council also named the embattled lawmaker as the leader of the "Teves Terrorist Group."

Eleven others, including his younger brother and former governor Pryde Henry Teves, and his alleged bagman Marvin Miranda, were also tagged as terrorists.

Also tagged by the ATC as among those involved in the so-called terrorist group were Teves' former bodyguard Nigel Electona, Tomasino Aledro, Rogelio Antipolo, Hannah Mae Oray, Rommel Pattaguan, Winrich Isturis, John Louie Gonyon, Dahniel Lora, Eulogio Gonyon Jr., and Jomarie Catubay.

In its resolution dated July 26, the ATC said Rep. Teves was the alleged leader and mastermind of the group, while his brother and Electona "provided material support."

"Investigation also reveals that Hannah Mae Sumero Oray handles the operational funds for the killings while Marvin H. Miranda acts as organizer and recruiter of personnel for specific terrorist attacks," the ATC said.

The designation ended a months-long process for the ATC to brand Teves as an alleged terrorist, a plan first announced by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla in April.

• Cong. Teves may be designated or proscribed as terrorist, says Remulla

"In this case, the activities that led to the killing on March 4, all are covered under the anti-terror law: the recruitment, the financing, the purchase of firearms, the distribution of firearms," Remulla had said.

Teves remains overseas and was last located in Timor-Leste, refusing to return to the Philippines due to purported threats to his life.

He also remains suspended due to his continued absence from his duties at the House of Representatives.

The Degamo camp had expressed support for the move to tag Teves as a terrorist, with lawyer Levito Baligod saying they had "concrete evidence" linking the embattled lawmaker to terror groups in Mindanao.

"We have concrete evidence to prove that he is... in a tactical alliance with the communist terrorist group and the local terrorist groups in Mindanao," he told ANC's "Headstart" last April.

A day before Teves' "terrorist" tag was officially announced, his alleged gunman Alex Mayagma was killed in a police operation inside his rooster farm in Barangay Malabugas, Bayawan City on Monday.

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Ferdinand Topacio, Teves' legal counsel, said that the lawmaker's camp was not surprised at the tag, as he claimed the government had been bent on pinning his client as a mastermind in the Degamo slay since the crime took place.

He said the country's law enforcement agencies had weaponized the Anti-Terror Act against his client, claiming they had "eggs on their faces" after some of the alleged gunmen in the Degamo killing recanted their statements tagging Teves as orchestrating the crime.

"It is thus a sad day for the Rule of Law in this country, and a shocking reminder that even under constitutional and republican regime, the return to a government of men and not of laws can always ensue, especially for those targeted for destruction by the present dispensation," Topacio said.

The younger Teves, for his part, said he was completely surprised with the decision, and that he is feeling depressed.

"I was completely surprised, and until now, I was really depressed," Pryde Henry Teves told Radyo 630.

"My record speaks for itself. I carried myself in accordance with the law. Kahit nga magsalita ng masakit laban sa kapwa tao hindi ko nga ginagawa eh, 'yan pa kaya," he added.

(I can't even speak ill of other people, what more this [terrorism]).

Former governor Teves also worries for his family and his business, after he has been tagged as a terrorist.

"It will be harder for you to do business, it will be harder for you to make a living," he said.

He likewise assured the government that he has nothing to hide, and that he will never leave the country.

"I am preparing myself for whatever will happen but I will never run away," Pryde Henry said.

"I will assure the administration that I will never leave," he added.

The lawyers of some of Teves' alleged cohorts also slammed the designation.

"That appears to be putting the cart before the horse," said Jord Valenton, representing Winrich Isturis, John Louie Gonyon, and Eulogio Gonyon, Jr.

Nigel Electona's lawyer Michael Mella also said the tag "smacks of oppression, abuse of power and the exact paradigm of capricious disregard of due process of law."

"A reading of all the malicious charges against my client would show that the allegations in support thereof are very shallow, twisted, obviously contrived and based on planted and fabricated evidence," Mella said in a statement.

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But for Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo, it was a welcome development on the investigation of her husband's assassination.

She said the ATC made "the right decision" to tag Rep. Teves and his younger brother, because their alleged abuses in Negros Oriental were "really tantamount to that of a terrorist."

"I understand Topacio why he has to say otherwise. Siyempre naman po, lawyer siya nila [Teves]. Pero sa tingin dapat iyong mga lawyer na nagdidipensa ng mga terorista, they should be sanctioned as well... because we do not want terrorism to take over in our democracy," she told ANC.