President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. dismissed Rep. Arnolfo Teves’ conspiracy theory linking him to the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo allegedly due to his involvement in cockfighting.
Instead, the President stated that the government has requested Teves to come back to the Philippines and face accusations of his involvement in the murder of the provincial governor.
“Ang puno’t dulo nito ay e-sabong? Hindi. Ang puno’t dulo nito ay ang pagkapaslang kay Governor Degamo. Nagkaproblema na kami sa e-sabong noon but that’s not what this is about,” Marcos said in a streamed press conference.
Marcos also promised that Teves wouldn’t have any problems coming back home. He then brought up Teves’s alleged ownership of a private jet.
“Mayaman ka naman, may private jet ka naman eh. Mag-landing ka kung saan mo gusto. Sa Air Force Base. Mag-landing siya sa Basa, papaligiran natin ng sundalo, walang makakalapit ng isang kilometro that will guarantee his security. So, we have made all of these offers pero hindi pa sya nagde-decide,” he added.
Netizens then wondered how rich Teves is if, in fact, he owns a private jet, with some accusing him of getting special treatment.
Pres. Marcos Jr. urges Arnie Teves to return to PH, says no threats vs lawmaker: “Mayaman ka naman, may private jet ka naman… Kung gusto mo maglanding ka sa Basa Air Base. Papaligiran natin ng sundalo, walang makakalapit isang kilometro.”
Ang hustisya ay para lang sa mayaman?
— Miss Maggie (@MiaMagdalena) March 22, 2023
Special treatment pa talaga? Sobra naman pagpapa-importante nitong si Teves. https://t.co/xjKgTnBhrz
— Jojo Clemente (@jclem3) March 22, 2023
Ano ang negosyo ni Teves for him to afford a private jet? I know a lot of really rich people with big businesses and yet I doubt if they can afford a private jet. https://t.co/w1zEuL6Ewo
— Gabriel Pasternak✊️🇵🇭🇺🇦🇵🇸 (@giodrocketman) March 22, 2023
https://twitter.com/Targrod/status/1638466576386260994?s=20
However, some are skeptical of Marcos’ plans for Teves given that former senator Benigno Aquino was assassinated after the late dictator promised his safety upon arriving in the country.
Wasn't that also what they assured Benigno (Ninoy) Aquino Jr in 1983? How did that work out?@USAmbPH@INDOPACOM https://t.co/yIorVjT45C
— Fil-Am China Watch (@FilAmChinaWatch) March 22, 2023
papaligiran ng sundalo … ? nakow baka lalo di mag-landing private jet nya at baka i-rename basa air base na ATIA – arnie teves international airport 🤭 staged suicide daw ahihi
— urayon (@urayon1) March 22, 2023
Teves is not secured. It’s best for him to stay abroad.
— 🇵🇭 JORPetalcorin (@JORPetalcorin) March 22, 2023
Some netizens think Teves might end up like Aquino since his alliance with the President is a bit blurry.
I've heard that assurance before pag landing patay
— Hearditright (@hearditright) March 22, 2023
Si Ninoy nga napatay napapaligiran ng media at sundalo.
— AKO LANG BA? ni Matuang Kepweng (1 of 15,035,773) (@A_Dee_2013) March 22, 2023
https://twitter.com/Binbows11/status/1638462997034332160?s=20
“May banta daw sa buhay niya. Kami naman sa intelligence, the best intelligence we have we don’t know of any threat. Saan manggagaling yung threat? But, anyway, to reassure him, we will provide all kinds of security. Kung ano ang gusto mo,” Marcos added.
“The only advice I can only give to Cong. Arnie is that habang tumatagal ito, mas nagiging mahirap ang sitwasyon mo. Mas maaga kang makauwi, mas marami pang option ang mangyayari. Pero pag masyado nang late, wala na, mapipilitan ang gobyerno. We will have to move without any discussions with him,” the President concluded.