Manila court enters not guilty plea for Teves in multiple murder case
Former lawmaker Arnolfo Teves Jr.’s mugshot taken during processing at the National Bureau of Investigation headquarters in Pasay City. (Photo from NBI)
MANILA, Philippines — A Manila court on Tuesday entered a not guilty plea for expelled Negros Oriental lawmaker Arnolfo Teves Jr. in a multiple murder case.
According to Teves’ lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, the court entered the not guilty plea after Teves invoked his right to remain silent before the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 51.
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“[He invoked] his right to remain silent … 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, at least with the executive branch of Timor-Leste,” Topacio said in a chance interview.
Topacio said the next hearing on Teves’ case will be on August 20.
Teves is facing 10 counts of murder, 14 counts of frustrated murder, and four counts of attempted murder under the Revised Penalty Code for the killing of then Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and nine others or what is known as the Pamplona massacre in 2023.
After years of being overseas, the expelled lawmaker was deported by Timor-Leste after his arrest by Timorese immigration authorities on May 28 at his residence in Dili.
READ: Teves back in PH to face charges in Degamo slay
He arrived in the country the following evening.
Initially detained at the NBI’s detention facility in the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City, a Manila court has since ordered his transfer to the Manila City Jail.
