Manila court enters 'not guilty' plea for Arnie Teves over 2019 murder case

A Manila court on Monday entered a not guilty plea for former Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. in his murder case for an alleged killing in Negros Oriental in 2019.

Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio said Teves refused to make a plea during his arraignment at the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 12. 

He attended via videoconference.

Meanwhile, Topacio said the pre-trial hearing was set on July 29.

Teves also previously did not enter a plea for his consolidated case of illegal possession of firearms and illegal possession of explosives, as well as his multiple murder case over the alleged killing of late Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.

He also did not enter a plea for his terrorism financing case before the QC RTC Branch 77.

Teves and 12 others have also been designated as terrorists by the Anti-Terrorism Council, citing several alleged killings and harassment in Negros Oriental.

He was expelled by the House of Representatives in August last year for disorderly conduct and continued absence. —KG, GMA Integrated News