A Manila Regional Trial Court reset the arraignment and pre-trial of ex-Congressman Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. to June 19 at 8:30 a.m. to ensure the “orderly presentation of evidence and the efficient conduct of proceedings.”

During the scheduled hearing for the presentation of the prosecution’s evidence, state prosecutors Michael John M. Humarang and Eugene Q. Yusi appeared but informed the court that their witnesses were unavailable.

They also reported Teves’ arrest and current custody under the NBI.

A Manila court has confirmed that former Negros Oriental congressman Arnolfo Alipit Teves Jr. is in the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), even as it noted that the return of the arrest warrant issued against him has yet to be submitted to the court.

In a two-page order issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 15, Presiding Judge Eduardo Ramon R. Reyes directed the NBI to submit the return of the warrant within five days from receipt of the order.

The court emphasized that while Teves has already been arrested, “records of the case do not reflect the return of the warrant of arrest issued against him.”

The order was dated June 5 but only released on June 9 based on a notice received by the Topacio Law Office, counsel for Teves.

Teves, along with co-accused Richard Namoco (also known as Boy Cuadra) and Rolando Pinili (alias Inday), is facing charges for murder.

The case stemmed from one of several killings in Negros Oriental linked to the former lawmaker.