Manila court acquits Arnie Teves, 2 others in 2019 murder case

A Manila court has acquitted former Negros Oriental representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr., and two other individuals, in a 2019 murder case. 

In a 35-page decision dated January 5, 2026, Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 15 Presiding Judge Eduardo Ramon Reyes said that Teves, Richard Cuadra, and Rolando Pinili were acquitted of the crime charged against them “for failure of the prosecution to establish a prima facie case.” 

The demurrers to evidence filed by the three accused were granted. 

The case stemmed from three murder cases filed by the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP CIDG) in relation to the killing of three individuals in 2019, based on a report of Luisito Santos of Super Radyo dzBB.

The jail warden of the Metro Manila District Jail in Camp Bagong Diwa was then directed to release Teves from custody, unless held for some other lawful case.

The same was ordered by the court to the jail warden of Manila City Jail-Male Dormitory for Cuadra and Pinili. 

Aside from this case, Teves is also facing murder, attempted murder, and frustrated murder case over the killing of late Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and others on March 4, 2023 at the Degamo residence in Pamplona, Negros Oriental.

In September 2025, Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 12 recommended a bail of P120,000 for the temporary liberty of Teves in another murder case he is facing. This is over the death of Lester Bato, a bodyguard for Basay mayoralty candidate Cliff Cordova in May 2019.

In June 2025, the National Bureau of Investigation said Teves is also facing the following charges:

• Murder case before the Bayawan RTC Branch 63
• Illegal possession of firearms and illegal possession of explosives at the Manila RTC Branch 12
• Terrorist Financing, prevention, and suppression act before the Quezon City RTC Branch 77

Teves is currently detained at the NBI facility in the New Bilibid Prison in  Muntinlupa City.

For Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, Teves' legal counsel, the congressman’s acquittal showed that the cases filed against Teves “are nothing but harassment suits meant to persecute a political opponent.” 

"It also shows how the Department of Justice has been weaponized for the purpose of vexing the critics of government. We are fortunate, however, to have found a fair and impartial tribunal that has proven itself truly independent and impervious to political pressures,” Topacio said in a statement. 

"There are many more battles left to fight for truth and justice. In this, we shall never waver until the last of these groundless suits is dismissed. For indeed, the wheels of justice grind slowly, but they grind exceedingly fine,” he added. — AOL/BAP, GMA Integrated News