A Manila court has cleared former Negros Oriental congressman Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr. of murder charges, citing a lack of strong evidence from the prosecution to secure a guilty verdict.
Court Cites Lack of Evidence for Acquittal
In a significant legal development, the Regional Trial Court of Manila, Branch 15, issued a 35-page order on January 5, 2026, granting the demurrer to evidence filed by Teves and his co-accused. The court ruled that the prosecution failed to build a strong enough case to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The order specifically stated, "For failure of the prosecution to establish a prima facie case, said accused are hereby acquitted of the crime charged." Alongside Teves, the court also acquitted Richard Cuadra (alias "Boy Cuadra") and Rolando Pinili (alias "Inday").
The 2019 Killing of a Bodyguard
The case stemmed from the fatal shooting of Lester Bato on May 26, 2019, in Sitio Labugon, Barangay Nagbo-alao, Basay, Negros Oriental. Bato was serving as a bodyguard for Basay mayoral candidate Cliff Cordova at the time of his death.
Defense Claims Political Persecution
Following the acquittal, Teves' legal counsel, Attorney Ferdinand Topacio, released a strong statement. He characterized the case as a politically motivated harassment suit aimed at persecuting an opponent.
"It also shows how the Department of Justice has been weaponized for the purpose of vexing the critics of the government," Topacio claimed. He praised the court as a "fair and impartial tribunal" that remained independent of political pressures.
Topacio also hinted at future legal battles, stating, "There are many more battles left to fight for truth and justice. In this, we shall never waver until the last of these groundless suits are dismissed."
Remaining Behind Bars on Separate Charges
Despite this legal victory, Arnie Teves will not be released from detention. He continues to be held in connection with a separate, more high-profile case. He faces charges related to the March 2023 killings of former Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and several other individuals. The proceedings for that case are ongoing, keeping the former congressman in custody.
