Expelled Negros Oriental congressman Arnolfo A. Teves Jr. is set for arraignment at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, June 10, before the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 51 on 10 counts of murder, 13 counts of frustrated murder, and five counts of attempted murder.
During the arraignment, the court will read the charges against Teves, after which he must enter a plea – either guilty or not guilty. If he refuses to do so, a plea of not guilty will be recorded.
The cases stemmed from the March 4, 2023 killings in Pamplona, Negros Oriental, where Gov. Roel Degamo and nine persons died, and 18 others wounded, 13 of them seriously.
Teves was named as the alleged mastermind behind the killings.
“Sa Martes ho uli (June 10, 2025) arraignment sa Branch 51 RTC Manila naman ni Cong. Teves…2:00 p.m.,” National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Jaime B. Santiago told journalists.
Last Thursday, June 5, Teves was arraigned before Manila RTC Branch 12 on charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives.
When Teves refused to enter a plea, the presiding judge entered a not guilty plea for him, according to the NBI.
Teves remains in the NBI detention facility within the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.
Earlier, Director Santiago had said that the NBI will await court orders on the transfer of Teves’ detention to the Manila City Jail. (Jeffrey Damicog)
