Former Negros Oriental Governor Pryde Henry Teves has asked state prosecutors to dismiss the criminal complaint filed against him relating to illegally seized firearms, explosives, and an P18 million case from a sugar mill alleged to belong to him. Teves questioned the validity of the search warrant and the manner in which the search was conducted. Specifically, he argued that the search warrant only stated the subject of the search was HDJ Bayawan Agriventures Corporation Compound, but that compound was more or less a composition of 51 hectares, of which only 10 hectares were enclosed and gated. The enclosed area is the Tolong Sugar Mill or the HDJ compound. Furthermore, the evidence which was discovered may have been obtained unconstitutionally, as the police disabled the CCTV cameras along the premises of the Tolong Sugar Mill during the search; absent of the presence of two witnesses which is required by law, and no evidence was presented to show that Teves had actual or constructive possession and control over the items seized.
