The Manila Regional Trial Court yesterday issued an electronic arrest warrant against former Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr. and several others in relation to the assassination of provincial governor Roel Degamo.

The warrant was released following the acceptance of an amended criminal information by Judge Merianthe Pacita Zuraek against the accused in the killings not only of Degamo but also of nine others.

The court agreed with government prosecutors that probable cause exists to charge Teves, Angelo Palagtiw and Capt. Lloyd Cruz Garcia II.

The court also issued a commitment order for accused Nigel Electona, alias "Najel" and "Naijel," to Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.

The arraignment and pre-trial conference were rescheduled to 4 October.

The Supreme Court approved the transfer of jurisdiction to the Manila RTC, with the charges officially lodged on 18 August.

Teves, who has not returned from abroad, was tagged as the mastermind the 4 March assault on the Degamo residence in the town of Pamplona, Negros Oriental.