Arnie Teves' arraignment hits delay

The scheduled arraignment of former Negros Oriental representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. hit a delay Thursday as a Manila court assigned to the case has yet to acquire jurisdiction over the accused. 

According to Manny Vargas’ report on Super Radyo dzBB, Teves' legal counsel Atty. Andres Manuel Jr. explained the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 15 did not proceed with the arraignment pending the National Bureau of Investigation’s return of the arrest warrant against the ex-legislator. 

The Manila RTC suspended the arraignment proceedings until the morning of Thursday, June 26. It also gave the NBI 48 hours to return the warrant of arrest. 

Teves is currently facing murder, frustrated murder, and attempted murder charges for the alleged killing of Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo and 10 others in 2023, among others.

He is also facing charges for illegal possession of firearms and explosives, and had been named a terrorist by the Anti-Terrorism Council for alleged killings and harassment in Negros Oriental.—Sundy Locus/AOL, GMA Integrated News