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

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

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

A Manila court has confirmed that Teves is in the custody of the NBI, even as it noted that the return of the arrest warrant issued against him had 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 noted that while Teves has been arrested, “records of the case do not reflect the return of the warrant of arrest issued against him.”

The order was dated 5 June but released only on 9 June 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.