Detained former Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo Teves Jr. is recovering after undergoing a successful emergency appendectomy early Wednesday at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), according to his legal counsel said.

“I am very happy to report that the operation on Rep. Arni Teves at the Philippine General Hospital was successful. He is now recuperating well,” Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, Teves’ legal counsel, said in a statement Wednesday morning.

Topacio thanked University of the Philippines Manila Chancellor Dr. Michael Tee for facilitating Teves’ swift transfer to PGH and commended surgeon Dr. Marc Paul “Ancoy” Lopez and his team “for skillfully addressing what was potentially a life-threatening medical condition.”

Meantime, Topacio criticized the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), asserting they failed to act swiftly despite Teves’ repeated pleas for medical attention.

“This incident should serve as a wake-up call… If it took several hours for a high-profile prisoner such as Rep. Teves to be given medical attention, we shudder at how the BJMP will treat ordinary detainees,” Topacio said.

He added that current jail rules limiting access to private hospitals are “illogical and archaic,” and that Teves was deprived of the right to choose his own doctor.

Teves had complained of severe abdominal pain since Monday night. Jail authorities confirmed he was taken to a government hospital around 6 a.m. Tuesday, where he was diagnosed with acute appendicitis.

The appendectomy was performed around 2 a.m. Wednesday.

Topacio also criticized Branch 51 of the Manila Regional Trial Court, alleging it ignored Supreme Court directives on commitment orders, which he claimed led to unnecessary delays in Teves’ access to proper care.