Expelled Negros Oriental Thirrd District representative Arnolfo Teves Jr., May 20, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Former lawmaker Arnolfo Teves, Jr. underwent a "successful" surgery on Wednesday morning, his lawyer said.

Teves underwent the unspecified medical procedure after he complained of “severe stomach pains” on Tuesday morning while in detention at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City. 

"I am very happy to report that the operation on Rep. Arni Teves at the Philippines General Hospital (PGH) was successful. He is now recuperating well,” said Teves' lawyer Ferdinand Topacio.

Teves was transferred late night Tuesday to the Philippine General Hospital from a private hospital. Topacio said Teves underwent operation early Wednesday morning.

"We wish you thank University of the Philippines Manila Chancellor Dr. Michael Tee for arranging the transfer to PGH with dispatch. We would also like to express our appreciation to Dr. Marc Paul Lopez, a.k.a. Ancoy, and his dedicated team, for skillfully addressing what was potentially a life-threatening medical condition,” Topacio said.

Topcio however called on the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology as well as the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 51 for the supposed delays in according medical attention to Teves.

"It also demonstrates the potentially fatal results when trial courts, such as Branch 51 of the Regional Trial Court of Manila, do not abide by directives of the Supreme Court concerning the issuance of commitment orders, thus short-circuiting the judicial process for the safeguarding of  detention prisoners,” Topacio said.

Topacio also responded to the statement of Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo that the camp of Teves was full of “drama.”

"The operation performed on Mr. Teves proves that, far from being 'drama', the complaint of a medical condition was legitimate,” Topacio said.

IMMEDIATE RETURN

Teves will be brought back to detention immediately once cleared following his surgery, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said.

“Lahat naman ‘yan may court order at saka lahat ‘yan may protocol paano bantayan,” Remulla said in a chance interview after the launching ceremony of National Forensics Institute in University of the Philippines Manila.

“Pero sinisigurado ko na hindi siya makakatakas sa hustisya, at hindi rin siya makakatakas sa, kung sabihin niyang anumang excuse niya na kailangan hospital arrest, sisiguraduhin namin na hanggang kailangan lang siya dun at ibabalik kaagad siya kung saan siya dapat ikulong,” he added.

But Topacio said they will ask the court to allow Teves to stay in the hospital to recover before he can be returned to Camp Bagong Diwa.

“Aalamin ko para maipaalam sa korte batay po sa rekomendasyon ng doktor, in writing naman iyan, kung ilang araw po talaga ang kailangan recuperation,” he said.

“At the same time may mga pinatitingnan na rin po kaming mga pre-existing conditions such sa iyong asthma niya, iyong kanyang puso, since nandyan na naman. Hindi naman po makakadagdag sa araw ay nagpa-workup na rin po siya para isang gawaan na lang po,” the lawyer added.

Topacio reiterated his appeal to the judiciary to allow persons deprived of liberty to choose their doctors, following delays in the transfer of Teves from his detention cell to a medical facility.

“Any inmate, hindi lang naman po kami tumutukoy ka congressman Teves, any inmate should be allowed to get medical attention of his or her own choice under the supervision and care of a doctor his or her own choice hanggang maaari,” he said.

“Pwedeng mamili with court order which defies logic eh, kasi ano bang diperensya kung government hospital o private hospital, may security naman…may mga restrictions din naman so I do not see the difference, and under the equal protection clause of the Constitution, may equal protection eh, wala namang pinagkaiba ang government hospital at private hospital,” Topacio said.

Teves is facing charges for the murder of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and several others in an attack in 2023. These cases are currently pending before Manila RTC Branch 51.    

Degamo had been distributing aid at his home in Pamplona when six people carrying rifles and dressed in military fatigues entered the compound and opened fire on March 4, 2023.

The killings came months after Degamo was declared winner of a disputed vote, unseating Henry Teves, the ex-lawmaker's brother.

Arnolfo Teves was expelled from the House of Representatives after refusing to return to the Philippines to face murder charges.

He was detained at a driving range in Dili last year, but a Timorese court blocked his extradition. Manila's justice secretary suggested the decision may have been bought, saying it was "obvious that some people are making money out of this".

In an abrupt turnaround, Timor-Leste deported Teves in late May, saying his continued presence represented a security risk.

— With a report from Agence France-Presse