Not guilty plea entered for Teves in murder case

MANILA, Philippines — A Manila court yesterday entered a not guilty plea for expelled Negros Oriental congressman Arnolfo Teves Jr. in connection with a murder case in 2019.

Teves refused to enter a plea during his arraignment at the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 12.

He attended the court proceedings through videoconferencing in his cell at the Metro Manila District Jail Annex 2 at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig, his lawyer Ferdinand Topacio said.

Teves was scheduled to be arraigned on June 30, but it was deferred due to his confinement for an appendectomy at the Philippine General Hospital.

The court set the pre-trial hearing on July 29.

Teves previously did not enter a plea on charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives. He was accused of masterminding the assassination of Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo and nine others in March 2023.

Teves also refused to enter a plea on charges of terrorism financing filed against him before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 77.

The Anti-Terrorism Council has designated Teves as a terrorist for alleged involvement in killings in Negros Oriental.

He was flown back to the Philippines following his arrest by immigration authorities in Timor-Leste in May.