FORMER Negros Oriental congressman Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. was brought back to his detention cell in Camp Bagong Diwa Tuesday night from the Philippine General Hospital in Manila, where he underwent a successful appendectomy, his lawyer said yesterday.
Ferdinand Topacio said Teves was transferred to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) detention facility at around 8:30 p.m.
Teves is still having some “stomach pains of moderate intensity” stomach pains and will request for a follow-up check-up next week, he added.
On Tuesday, BJMP spokesman Supt. Jayrex Bustinera said the clearance issued by PGH showed that the former lawmaker is already “okay,” thus the hospital gave the green light for his return to his detention cell.
Bustinera yesterday said Teves was transported to the Metro Manila District Jail Annex 2, a BJMP detention facility in Taguig City, jointly by the BJMP and the PNP.
“This is a combined effort of the BJMP and the PNP because we tightened our security measures,” he said.
Teves was brought to the PGH from his detention on June 18 to undergo emergency appendectomy.
Teves is facing multiple murder charges before Branch 51 of the Manila Regional Trial Court in connection with his alleged role in the March 2023 attack that killed Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo and nine others.
The court entered a not guilty plea early this month when Teves declined to enter a plea during his arraignment on the Degamo case early this month.
Teves also declined to enter a plea during his arraignment before another Manila court, on charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives, also prompting the court to enter a not guilty plea.
Teves is also facing a case for violation of the terrorism financing and prevention act before a Quezon City court.
Manila RTC Branch 12 Presiding Judge Renato Enciso has granted Teves’ motion to defer his arraignment and pre-trial originally set on June 30, in another murder case. Arraignment was set to July 14. – With Victor Reyes
