Court enters ‘not guilty’ plea for Teves in firearms, explosives case

By Benjamin Pulta, Philippine News Agency

ARRAIGNED. Former Negros Oriental lawmaker Arnolfo Teves Jr., clad in ballistic headgear and body armor, is escorted out of the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 12 following his arraignment for illegal possession of firearms and explosives charges on Thursday (June 5, 2025). The court entered a not guilty plea for Teves after he invoked his right to remain silent. (PNA photo by Yancy Lim)

MANILA – The Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 12 on Thursday entered a “not guilty” plea for former Negros Oriental lawmaker Arnolfo Teves Jr. in his illegal possession of firearms and explosives case.

Judge Renato Enciso entered the plea after Teves invoked his right to remain silent during his arraignment.

The case stemmed from the alleged firearms, explosives, and ammunition seized by authorities in a raid at Teves’ home in Bayawan City, Negros Oriental in March 2023.

Following the arraignment, the court proceeded with the pre-trial and scheduled hearings for the formal trial on the charges.

The court scheduled the next hearing on July 29, with succeeding hearings lasting until 2027.

Teves arrived in court under heavy guard and clad in a bulletproof vest and helmet.

He was later returned to the National Bureau of Investigation custodial facility inside the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.

The former lawmaker is also facing a string of murder and frustrated cases in various courts, including the 10 counts of murder charges filed at Manila RTC Branch 51 over the killing of Governor Roel Degamo and nine others in 2023.

Other charges against Teves include four counts of attempted murder at Manila RTC Branch 51, a murder case at Manila RTC Branch 12, a murder case at Manila RTC Branch 15 15, and another murder case at Bayawan RTC Branch 63.

He also faces multiple cases under the Terrorist Financing Prevention and Suppression Act at the Quezon City RTC Branch 77.