Pryde Teves: I am willing to cooperate with authorities

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 25) — Former Negros Oriental Governor Pryde Henry Teves said he is willing to cooperate with authorities after a police raid on a sugar mill owned by a company he heads yielded firearms and ammunition.

The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) seized ₱18 million in cash, multiple firearms, and nearly 10,000 rounds of live ammunition from the HDJ Bayawan Agri-Venture Corp. Tolong compound in Bayawan City, Negros Oriental on Friday.

READ: ₱18M in cash, guns, ammo seized in Teves sugar mill raid – police

“Yes, I am the President of the Corp. [HDJ Bayawan Agri-Venture]. The search is not yet done. Let's wait for it to be concluded so I can also check with our records on who owns what and how it came to be,” he first told CNN Philippines in a text message on Friday while the raid was in progress.

“I will definitely cooperate with the authorities to shed light on the matter,” he also said.

The former governor echoed these sentiments in a chance interview on Saturday with CNN Philippines.

“I reached out to the DOJ, they need me to be invited to answer some questions para matahi nila [so they can put it together]," Pryde Teves said. "I am very willing also, wala akong problema [I have no problem with it].”

“When they tell me to do so I will definitely go para makahatag ng [so they can get] information from my end as president,” he added.

Pryde Teves is the brother of Negros Oriental 3rd district Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr, the alleged mastermind behind the killing of Governor Roel Degamo on Mar. 4.

Rep. Teves has been out of the country since Feb. 28 and has been suspended from the House of Representatives for his continued absence.

READ: House suspends Teves for 60 days over continued absence

In his absence, Rep. Teves has had several complaints of illegal possession of firearms filed against him.

The Department of Justice also claimed to have a list of people ordered killed by the congressman.

READ: Remulla: We have 'listing' of 17 people ordered killed by Teves

Dumaguete-based correspondent Roy Bustillo contributed to this report.