A Manila court on Monday entered a “not guilty” plea for former Negros Oriental lawmaker Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. after he refused to enter a plea himself on multiple counts of murder and frustrated murder charges.

Teves, who was recently deported from Timor-Leste, is facing 10 counts of murder, 13 counts of frustrated murder, and five counts of attempted murder. The charges stem from the March 2023 attack at the residence of then-Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo.

Degamo and ten others were killed in the broad daylight assault, with several more injured during the incident.

Appearing before the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 51 via video teleconference, Teves “respectfully invoked his right to remain silent” when asked to plead to the charges, his lawyer Ferdinand Topacio said. This prompted the court to enter the “not guilty” plea on Teves’ behalf.

Only three of the information were read during the arraignment, while the reading of the remaining charges was waived.

The court also deferred the pre-trial hearing that was originally expected to take place.

Instead, the presiding judge gave both the defense and the counsel for Degamo’s widow, Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo, until 10 July to file their pre-trial briefs. The pre-marking of evidence has been set for 4 August, while the pre-trial proper will take place on 20 August 2025 at 1:30 p.m.

Topacio confirmed that his client was arraigned on all charges via video conference.

“Three Informations were actually read while the reading of the others were waived. Instead of making a plea, Mr. Teves said ‘I respectfully invoke my right to remain silent’ for all charges read. Thus the Court entered a plea of ‘not guilty’ for him,” said Topacio.

He also noted that there was no pre-trial despite “the valiant and gallant effort to have it yesterday.” The judge granted both parties until 10 July to submit their pre-trial briefs, with the pre-marking on 4 August and the pre-trial on 20 August 2025, both at 1:30 p.m.

“Judge, however, allowed us to observe the bail proceedings for all other accused starting tomorrow,” Topacio added.