A MANILA Regional Trial Court (RTC) has rejected former Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr.’s motion to remain in the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) at the New Bilibid Prison.
In a five-page order, Manila RTC Branch 51 issued a commitment order transferring Teves to the Metro Manila District Jail (MMDJ) in Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan, Taguig City.
Branch 51 is handling Teves’ murder, frustrated murder, and attempted murder case in connection with the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and 10 others in March 2023. The court stated that Teves’ motion lacked merit, dismissing concerns about his safety.
The court also downplayed the Certificate of Handover signed by the governments of Timor-Leste and the Philippines prior to Teves’ deportation, stating that it did not specify a particular agency for his custody.
The court further rejected Teves’ claims of potential torture or inhumane treatment, stating that discomfort in detention does not automatically constitute inhumane treatment.
The court found no evidence of credible threats against Teves’ life and safety. The court suggested that Teves was attempting to choose a detention facility for his own convenience.
This decision follows an earlier order from Manila RTC Branch 12, handling Teves’ illegal possession of firearms and explosives case, to transfer him to the Manila City Jail. NBI Director Jaime Santiago previously blocked that transfer, citing the multiple courts handling Teves’ various cases.
Teves and others are also facing charges for the alleged murder of three individuals in Negros Oriental in 2019, and he and 12 others have been designated as terrorists by the Anti-Terrorism Council.
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