A MANILA court has ordered the transfer of expelled Negros Oriental representative Arnolfo Teves Jr. to the Manila City Jail.
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director Jaime Santiago said a Manila court has issued a commitment order against Teves, ordering for his detention at the Manila City Jail.
Teves is currently held at the NBI detention facility at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.
However, Santiago said he ordered to put the implementation of the court order on hold since Teves is also facing charges in other courts.
“Antayin natin ang final decision ng Manila courts. Marami eh. Para finally ma-determine namin saan namin finally i-turn over si Congressman Teves,” he said.
Teves is facing 10 counts of murder 13 counts of frustrated murder, four counts of attempted murder before the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 51; murder cases before the Manila RTC Branch 12, Branch 15 and Bayawan RTC Branch 63; illegal possession of firearms and illegal possession of explosives at the Manila RTC Branch 12; and terrorist financing, prevention, and suppression act before the Quezon City RTC Branch 77.
On Thursday, June 5, 2025, Teves attended the arraignment at the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 12.
The court entered a not guilty plea after the accused invoked his right to remain silent.
Teves was tagged as the mastermind in the killing of Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo, along with several other innocent civilians in broad daylight on March 4, 2023.
He is also facing murder charges in relation to the killing of three individuals in the province in 2019 including Miguel Dungog, a former board member of Negros Oriental.
Teves was arrested in Dili City in Timor Leste on May 27. (TPM/SunStar Philippines)