Degamo's widow: Arnie Teves still facing other murder cases

Negros Oriental Representative Janice Degamo said Friday the pursuit for accountability and justice for her late husband, Roel, will continue even after a Manila court acquitted former Negros Oriental representative Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr. in one of his murder cases.

In a Facebook post, Degamo said Teves' acquittal in a murder case stemming from a 2019 killing in Dumaguete City was "painful and difficult to accept."

Teves has been tagged as the main mastermind in the killing of later Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo in 2023. 

"While this news is painful and difficult to accept, it does not erase the fact that there are still multiple court trials ongoing, for other 2019 murder cases and for the Pamplona Massacre that took the life of Roel. Those proceedings continue, and so does our pursuit of accountability," Congresswoman Degamo said. 

"Justice is not always swift, and it is never easy, but I believe it will prevail. For my husband. For every victim. For every family left behind. We will continue to hope, to endure, and to fight for truth and justice," she added.

She also said that she remains committed to supporting the families affected by the killings as they continue to seek justice through the proper legal processes. 

"Our pain is shared, our resolve is collective, and our voices will not be silenced by setbacks along the way," she said. 

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—wherein the accused assert the insufficiency of evidence—filed by Teves and two others were granted. 

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

In September 2025, the 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 (NBI) 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. — VDV, GMA Integrated News