Court enters not guilty plea for Teves in explosives charges
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Court enters not guilty plea for Teves in explosives charges
Karen De Guzman,
ABS-CBN News
Published Jun 05, 2025 08:23 AM PHT
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Updated Jun 05, 2025 11:59 AM PHT
MANILA — The Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 12 on Thursday entered a not guilty plea for expelled congressman Arnolfo Teves Jr. for charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives in his first arraignment following his re-arrest and deportation from Timor Leste last week.
MANILA — The Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 12 on Thursday entered a not guilty plea for expelled congressman Arnolfo Teves Jr. for charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives in his first arraignment following his re-arrest and deportation from Timor Leste last week.
The charges stemmed from a raid conducted by the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) in March 2023 at Teves’ residence in Barangay Malabugas, Bayawan City, Negros Oriental.
The charges stemmed from a raid conducted by the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) in March 2023 at Teves’ residence in Barangay Malabugas, Bayawan City, Negros Oriental.
Authorities reportedly recovered high-powered firearms and explosives, which they claimed were unlicensed.
Authorities reportedly recovered high-powered firearms and explosives, which they claimed were unlicensed.
During the pre-trial proceedings, both the prosecution and defense marked their respective pieces of evidence and identified witnesses set to testify in future hearings.
During the pre-trial proceedings, both the prosecution and defense marked their respective pieces of evidence and identified witnesses set to testify in future hearings.
The prosecution filed a motion to consolidate the two cases, citing the use of the same evidence and witnesses in both.
The prosecution filed a motion to consolidate the two cases, citing the use of the same evidence and witnesses in both.
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Judge Enciso noted that the court will review a motion filed by Teves' legal team requesting that hearings be conducted via videoconference.
Judge Enciso noted that the court will review a motion filed by Teves' legal team requesting that hearings be conducted via videoconference.
However, no discussion was held regarding any potential transfer of Teves’ detention.
However, no discussion was held regarding any potential transfer of Teves’ detention.
He remains in the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and will continue to be detained at the NBI facility inside the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.
He remains in the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and will continue to be detained at the NBI facility inside the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.
The court has also set the hearing schedule for the case, which is expected to run until 2027.
The court has also set the hearing schedule for the case, which is expected to run until 2027.
Teves is also facing charges for the murder of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and several others in an attack in 2023.
Teves is also facing charges for the murder of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and several others in an attack in 2023.
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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.
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.
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.
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".
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, East Timor announced Teves' impending deportation last week, saying his continued presence represented a security risk.
In an abrupt turnaround, East Timor announced Teves' impending deportation last week, saying his continued presence represented a security risk.
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It added that Timor-Leste "imminent full accession" to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) had reinforced its responsibility to collaborate regionally on legal matters. With a report from Agence France-Presse
It added that Timor-Leste "imminent full accession" to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) had reinforced its responsibility to collaborate regionally on legal matters. With a report from Agence France-Presse
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