The Department of Justice is set to block the petition for bail which the co-accused of former Negros Oriental congressman Arnolfo Teves, Jr. are planning to file before the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 51.

Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon said the DOJ learned that accused Marvin Miranda and Angelo and Jay Ann Palagtiw are planning to file a bail petition. 

“We were informed yesterday that there were accused na magfa-file ng petition for bail and that is the reason why the hearing scheduled beginning next year will address yung petition for bail nung accused Miranda, Palagtiw siblings and several others, mauuna iyon tapos at the same time ihi-hear yung main na kaso pero bibigyan ng prayoridad ng husgado iyong nag-petition for bail,” Fadullon said. 

Miranda, the Palagtiw siblings, and others are the co-accused of Teves in the multiple murder cases for the killing of governor Roel Degamo and nine others. 

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Fadullon said they are preparing witnesses to be presented before the court.

 “What we will do is to present evidence to the court that the evidence of guilt is strong and therefore bail should not be granted so yung opposition will come in the form of us presenting witnesses and it will be up to the court to decide whether the witnesses presented are sufficient to deny the application for bail,” Fadullon said.

 The widow of governor Degamo, Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo expressed hope that the court will not grant bail to the accused.

 Degamo and the other relatives of the victims met with Fadullon Thursday afternoon.

 “Tingin ko hindi dapat eh, pero we are in a free country gusto rin nilang i-avail ang mga remedy available sa kanila pero I still believe na lalo na yung kay Miranda we have a very strong ano against him kaya we don’t think it will be granted, sana naman hindi,” Degamo said.

 Degamo also reiterated their desire to have Teves, who is currently detained in Timor Leste, extradited to the Philippines as soon as possible.

 “Nahuli na halos lahat bakit iyong si Arnie hindi pa, so talagang ano, hopeful kami na mauwi talaga siya rito and be made answerable, may ano tayo may tinitingnan tayong kaso na dapat sinasalang na rin siya sa court,” Degamo said.