Court enters not guilty plea for Teves in illegal possession of firearms, explosives charges
Metro Manila, Philippines - A Manila court entered a not guilty plea for expelled Rep. Arnie Teves in his illegal possession of firearms and explosives charges after he refused to enter a plea.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) escorted Teves to the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 12 for the arraignment on Thursday, June 5.
Teves’ legal counsel Ferdinand Topacio explained that his client did not enter a plea due to legal complications in Timor-Leste such as the refusal to recognize the writ of habeas corpus and the court decision dismissing the Philippine government’s extradition request.
“We still have pending questions with respect to the jurisdiction of the court considering that it is our stand that the handover to the executive branch of the Timor-Leste government and the subsequent repatriation of Mr. Teves were illegal acts,” Topacio said.
“We do not believe that we can plea that as a defense in abatement,” he added.
The lawyer said that the Timor-Leste Parliament is investigating Teves’ turnover.
READ: Teves en route to PH from Timor-Leste
Meanwhile, Topacio shared that they appealed for Teves to remain in the NBI detention facility in the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.
The legal counsel noted that a court could release a commitment order to keep the accused near for “easy access.” For Teves’ case, however, he has charges before courts in Manila and Quezon City.
“Ang [The] primordial concern is the safety,” Topacio said. “Ang maganda siguro, national na kumupkop sa kanya para hindi na localized ‘yung kanyang detention; centralized na po.”
[Translation: It would be better if the national government would keep him so his detention would not be localized, but centralized.]
READ: Teves insists ‘conscience is clear’
Teves has been tagged as the alleged mastermind in the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo. The former congressman is facing 13 counts each of murder and frustrated murder and four counts of attempted murder for crimes committed between 2019 to 2023.
