Manila court enters ‘not guilty' plea for Teves in Degamo murder case
A Manila court on Tuesday entered a not guilty plea for former Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo 'Arnie' Teves Jr. in the multiple murder case filed against him over the alleged killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, his camp said.
Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, Teves' legal counsel, said the former lawmaker again invoked his right to remain silent before the Manila regional trial court (RTC) Branch 51.
Teves attended the arraignment through teleconference.
'Because he has serious reservations about the manner by which he was repatriated by the Philippine government in coordination with the government of Timor-Leste,' Topacio said in an ambush interview.
The former lawmaker was deported from Timor-Leste in late May.
Teves' camp previously lamented his deportation amid the habeas corpus petition they filed asking the Timor-Leste Court of Appeal for his body to be produced before the court following his arrest.
The former congressman is facing murder, attempted murder, and frustrated murder charges over the killing of Degamo and nine others on March 4, 2023 at the Degamo residence in Pamplona, Negros Oriental.
Topacio said the next hearing will take place on August 20.
Meanwhile, Atty. Andrei Bon Tagum represented congresswoman-elect and former Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo, the late governor's widow.
'All I can say is that today marks a difficult step towards justice. And the private complainant, congresswoman-elect Janice Degamo has waited so long for this,' Tagum said in a separate interview.
Last week, Teves was arraigned for his case over illegal possession of firearms and explosives. The Manila RTC Branch 12 also entered a not guilty plea for him.
Teves and several others have also been charged with the alleged killings of three individuals in Negros Oriental in 2019.
He and 12 others have also been designated as terrorists by the Anti-Terrorism Council, citing several alleged killings and harassment in Negros Oriental.
He was expelled by the House of Representatives in August last year for disorderly conduct and continued absence.
A Manila court has ordered his transfer from the NBI detention facility in the New Bilibid Prison to the Manila City Jail. —RF, GMA Integrated News
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