QC court enters not-guilty plea for Teves

A Quezon City court entered a not-guilty plea on behalf of former Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. on Friday, 11 July, after he declined to enter a plea at his arraignment on terrorism charges.

Teves, appearing via videoconference, invoked his constitutional right against self-incrimination in refusing to enter a plea.

He took the same stance in earlier legal proceedings where the court also entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf.

Teves’ counsel, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, confirmed the development to reporters, saying, “Arraignment done. Not guilty plea entered. Pretrial deferred.”

The expelled congressman is facing charges of violating Section 4(a) of Republic Act 10168, the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012, before the QC Regional Trial Court.

The charges stemmed from the 4 March 2023 assassination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and nine others in a daylight attack.