FORMER congressman Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. underwent a “successful” appendectomy yesterday at the Philippine General Hospital, his lawyer said yesterday.
“He is now recuperating well,” said Ferdinand Topacio.
Topacio took time to hit back at those who he said dismissed the former lawmaker’s medical condition as “drama.”
“The successful operation performed on Mr. Teves proves that, far from being ‘drama,’ the complaint of a medical condition was legitimate,” he said.
He thanked Dr. Michael Tee, UP Manila chancellor, “for arranging the transfer to PGH with dispatch,” and Dr. Marc Paul Lopez and his team “for skillfully addressing what was potentially a life-threatening medical condition.”
Topacio did not say when Teves will be returned to his detention cell in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.
Teves is facing multiple murder charges before a Manila court in connection with the 2023 attack that killed Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo and nine others, another murder case before a court in Negros Oriental, and for violation of the terrorism financing and prevention act before a court in Quezon City.
Charges for illegal possession of firearms and explosives have also been filed against the former lawmaker.
He was brought to a hospital on Tuesday after complaining of severe stomach pain since Monday night in his detention cell in Camp Bagong Diwa from a facility managed by the National Bureau of Investigation inside the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City where he was detained after he was extradited
