DOJ eyes appeal to Arnie Teves acquittal on 2019 murder case

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is looking to appeal a Manila court ruling that cleared former Negros Oriental representative Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr. and two others over a 2019 murder case, Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon said Friday.

"Parang sinasabi kasi ng desisyon ng husgado doon, iisa lang 'yung testigo na tumayo laban kay former Congressman Teves na sinasabi siya ang nag-mastermind ng pagpatay," Fadullon said.

(It seems like the court's decision is saying that there was only one witness who claimed that former Congressman Teves was the mastermind behind the killing.)

"Hindi kinatigan ng husgado, sinabi na hindi sapat 'yun. Kami ngayon, we're exerting efforts to see—, I think there's a motion for reconsideration… But I think we could question," Fadullon said.

(The court did not uphold it and said it was not enough. As for us now, we're exerting efforts to see—, I think there’s a motion for reconsideration… But I think we could question.)

Last January, the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 15 acquitted Teves and others of the crime charged against them "for failure of the prosecution to establish a prima facie case." 

Justice spokesperson Polo Martinez previously said the 2019 case has no effect on the ongoing murder, frustrated murder, and attempted murder case over the alleged killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and others in 2023.

The Anti-Terrorism Council has designated the former congressman and others as terrorists, citing several alleged killings and harassment in Negros Oriental.

In June 2025, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said Teves was 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

— VDV, GMA Integrated News