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

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 25) – Authorities have seized about ₱18 million in cash, multiple firearms, and nearly 10,000 rounds of live ammunition in a raid on a sugar mill allegedly owned by former Negros Oriental Governor Pryde Teves, the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) said Saturday.

Cops on Friday raided the HDJ Bayawan Agri-Venture Corp. Tolong compound, a mill in Barangay Caranoche, Santa Catalina Town in Negros Oriental.

Six rifles, nine pistols, 9,615 rounds of live ammunition, 207 fired rounds, 45 magazines, firearm accessories, and approximately ₱18 million in cash were seized from the sugar mill.

Pryde Teves is the president of the company that owns the sugar mill. He is the brother of Negros Oriental 3rd district Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr., who is being linked to the assassination of Governor Roel Degamo.

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

Three individuals were also arrested at the mill: two security guards identified as Nigel Electona and Jeson Baillo, and one fire truck driver identified as Dionilo Mayagma Jr.

They were turned over to the CIDG Regional Field Unit 7 for documentation and inquest.

Meanwhile, the confiscated firearms will be sent to the PNP Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) to verify their registry.

According to PNP CIDG Chief Romeo Caramat Jr., the raid was done lawfully with the use of body-worn cameras while employees and officials of HDJ Agri-Ventures bore witness.

The search warrant for violations against Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act was issued against Pryde Teves on March 23 by Judge Allan Francisco Garciano of the 7th Judicial Region, Mandaue City.

PNP spokesperson PCol. Jean Fajardo disclosed that an informant had tipped off police that high-powered firearms were being kept at the sugar mill.

Meanwhile, Rep. Arnolfo Teves is facing multiple illegal possession of firearms complaints. The Department of Justice has junked one of the complaints

READ: DOJ junks one of several illegal firearms complaints vs. Teves