Police raid sugar mill linked to Pryde Teves, brother of Rep. Arnolfo Teves

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 24) - The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday raided a sugar mill reportedly linked to former Negros Oriental Gov. Pryde Henry Teves.

Pryde Teves is the brother of Negros Oriental 3rd district Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. The congressman was earlier tagged as a mastermind behind the assassination of Gov. Roel Degamo.

READ: Authorities raid properties owned by family of Rep. Teves, alleged mastermind of Degamo slay

According to PNP spokesperson PCol. Jean Fajardo, authorities raided the HDJ Bayawan Agri-Venture Corp. Tolong compound, a sugar mill in Barangay Caranoch, Santa Catalina Town in Negros Oriental on Friday.

“Base sa records, ang tumatayong presidente diyan ay si Mr. Pryde Henry Teves,” Fajardo said.

[Translation: Based on the records, the standing president is Pryde Teves.]

A directory published by the Sugar Regulatory Administration in 2021 listed Pryde Teves as the president of HDJ Bayawan Agri-Venture Corp.

In a text message to CNN Philippines, Pryde Teves confirmed that he was president of HDJ Bayawan Agri-Venture Corp and commented on the raid.

"Yes I am the President of the Corp. The search is not yet done. Lets 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 told CNN Philippines.

"I will definitely cooperate with the authorities to shed light on the matter," he added.

Fajardo said police personnel on the ground seized firearms from the compound and that a complete report on the situation would be released later in the day.

Asked for the basis of the search warrant issued for the raid, Fajardo said “Meron po tayong isang impormante na lumapit sa PNP na nagsasabi na itong compound na dito po ay itinatago at may pag-iingat ng high-powered firearms na makikita sa loob ng HDJ Tolong Compound.”

[Translation: We had an informant who came to us and said that high-powered firearms were kept in the compound.]

Fajardo said several persons in possession of firearms were arrested and would be placed under inquest.

“Wala po tayong impormasyon if related ito sa [We have no information if this is related to the] Degamo case,” she added.

This is a developing story and will be updated.