NEGROS ORIENTAL KILLINGS

A Manila court on Monday entered a not guilty plea on behalf of expelled Negros Oriental Third District Representative Arnolfo Teves Jr. in connection with a 2019 murder case. Teves himself refused to enter a plea during his arraignment before the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 12.

Teves attended the court proceedings via videoconferencing from his detention cell at the Metro Manila District Jail Annex 2 at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig, as confirmed by his lawyer, Ferdinand Topacio. The court, following standard procedure under the Rules of Court for an accused who refuses or is unable to plead, formally entered the “not guilty” plea on his behalf. Teves also invoked his right to remain silent during the proceedings. The arraignment, initially scheduled for June 30, had been deferred due to Teves’s confinement for an appendectomy at the Philippine General Hospital.

This marks another instance where Teves has declined to enter a plea in court. He similarly refused to plea to charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives, and also to terrorism financing charges filed against him before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 77. The Anti-Terrorism Council had previously designated Teves as a terrorist due to his alleged involvement in various killings in Negros Oriental, including being accused of masterminding the assassination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and nine others in March 2023.

The pre-trial hearing for the 2019 murder case has been set for July 29, and will also be conducted via videoconferencing. Teves’ legal team is reportedly preparing to file a petition for bail with the court.

Teves was flown back to the Philippines in May, following his arrest by immigration authorities in Timor-Leste, where he had been seeking asylum.