The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Wednesday confirmed that former Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. will not be placed under hospital arrest or receive special treatment following his discharge from the Philippine General Hospital.
According to DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla, PGH has cleared Teves for discharge, meaning he is medically fit for detention. “He will not receive any preferential treatment and will be treated like any other person deprived of liberty (PDL),” Remulla stated.
Teves was released from PGH around 9 p.m. Tuesday and has been returned to the Metro Manila District Jail Annex 2 in Taguig, as confirmed by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), which is also tasked with ensuring his safety.
Teves’ lawyer, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, said his client still experiences moderate stomach pain and will request a follow-up checkup at the detention facility a week from now. Teves underwent an appendectomy on June 18.
The former lawmaker is accused of being the mastermind behind the March 2023 assassination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and nine others. He also faces charges of frustrated murder, attempted murder, and illegal possession of firearms and explosives.
Teves, who has denied all allegations, refused to enter pleas during his arraignments, prompting courts to enter “not guilty” pleas on his behalf. His arraignment for one of the murder cases has been rescheduled to July 14 due to his surgery.
He is also facing charges related to killings in Negros Oriental in 2019. The Anti-Terrorism Council has designated him and his alleged accomplices as terrorists, citing their involvement in a series of killings and acts of harassment in the province.