Arnie Teves brought to hospital due to stomach pains —lawyer

Former Negros Oriental representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. was brought to the hospital on Tuesday morning due to severe stomach pains, his camp said.

In a message to reporters, lawyer Ferdinand Topacio said Teves has been experiencing stomach pains since midnight while detained at Camp Bagong Diwa.

“Our client was buckling over due to pain, and according to him, he was practically on his knees, requesting to be brought to a hospital for treatment, but BJMP personnel could not grant said request due to ‘protocol'," Topacio said.

He said Teves was given medical attention at 5 a.m. before being transported to the hospital at around 7 a.m.

“By then, pain has become aggravated,” Topacio said.

“He is now undergoing treatment at the emergency room. Pain has somewhat subsided due to painkillers but still quite high. Further tests are needed to determine the cause of ailment,” he added.

Topacio declined to disclose the hospital due to security reasons.

According to Topacio, doctors decided to transfer him to ''another hospital with additional equipment and facilities'' as his condition required major surgery. 

He said government doctors recommended Teves’ transfer to St. Luke's Medical Center in Bonifacio Global City.

''All trial courts before which Mr. Teves has pending cases have been informed of the situation by way of the most expeditious means possible,'' Topacio said.

Teves is facing murder, frustrated murder, and attempted murder case over the alleged killing of Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo and 10 others in 2023.

He and several others have also been charged with the alleged killings of three individuals in Negros Oriental in 2019.

Aside from this, he is facing an illegal possession of firearms and explosives case before a Manila court. 

Manila courts have entered a not guilty plea for Teves in his multiple murder case and illegal possession of firearms and explosives case.

The Anti-Terrorism Council has designated him and others as terrorists, citing several alleged killings and harassment in Negros Oriental. —AOL/VBL, GMA Integrated News