Court enters not guilty plea for Teves in Degamo slay cases
Metro Manila, Philippines - A Manila court has entered a not guilty plea for expelled lawmaker Arnie Teves in the cases he is facing over the assassination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and nine others.
During the arraignment at Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 51 on Tuesday, June 10, Teves’ camp refused to enter a plea, believing the former congressman was illegally deported from Timor-Leste to the Philippines.
“It's a form of protest against what we perceive to be his illegal repatriation in violation of a final and executory decision of Timor Leste's highest court and a valid writ of habeas corpus,” Teves’ legal counsel Ferdinand Topacio told NewsWatch Plus in a message.
Hence, the court entered a not guilty plea for Teves, who attended the arraignment virtually.
A pre-trial was not held despite the Teves’ camp’s “valiant and gallant effort.”
The Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 12 has also entered a not guilty plea for the expelled House member in the illegal possession of firearms and explosives charges he is facing.
Teves was deported to the Philippines on May 29. He stayed in Timor-Leste for two years after being tagged as the alleged mastermind in the killing of Degamo and nine others in 2023.
