Wearing a ballistic helmet and bulletproof vest, detained former Negros Oriental Rep Arnolfo ‘Arnie’ Teves, Jr. showed up in person at the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 15 on Tuesday for his arraignment and pre-trial hearing in connection with murder charges filed against him in 2019.
Legal counsel Ferdinand Topacio joined the security convoy of Teves from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) facility in Bicutan, Taguig City. The former lawmaker was heavily guarded upon his arrival at the RTC.
The Manila RTC entered a “not guilty” plea in behalf of Teves, who once again invoked his right to remain silent. Pre-trial for the said case has been set on July 29.
On Monday, Teves also kept quiet when he attended the Manila RTC Branch 12 via teleconferencing, resulting in the entry of a “not guilty” plea by the court.
He also previously refused to enter a plea for his consolidated cases of illegal possession of firearms and explosives, as well as his multiple murder charges tied to the killing of the late Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo.
Teves, along with 12 others, is also accused of financing terrorists lodged before the Quezon City RTC Branch 77.
The ex-legislator was arrested in late May this year at his Dili residence in East Timor after running away from the law for two years. He was subsequently deported back to the Philippines to face his cases.
