Teves not off the hook — widow

The family of the late Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo on Saturday clarified that the recent acquittal of former Negros Oriental Congressman Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. in a 2019 murder case has no bearing on the multiple murder charges he is facing over the 2023 Pamplona massacre.

In a statement posted on her Facebook account, Negros Oriental Rep. Janice Degamo said the acquittal refers to a separate case involving a killing in Dumaguete City in 2019 and is “not connected whatsoever” to the 4 March 2023 attack in Pamplona, Negros Oriental, where Governor Degamo and several others were killed.

“We clarify that the recent news about the acquittal of former Representative Arnolfo Teves Jr. refers to a separate 2019 murder case in Dumaguete City and has no connection whatsoever to the multiple murder cases arising from the Pamplona, Negros Oriental massacre,” Degamo said.

She stressed that the cases stemming from the Pamplona killings “remain pending and actively prosecuted” before another court in Manila.

“The decision of acquittal issued by the Regional Trial Court of Manila, Branch 15, does not absolve Mr. Teves of responsibility for those crimes,” Degamo added, calling on the public to remain vigilant and rely on accurate reporting.

Difficult to swallow

“Our family remains committed to pursuing justice for Governor Degamo and all the other victims,” she said, while noting that Teves’ acquittal in the 2019 case was “painful and difficult to accept.”

In a 35-page decision dated 5 January 2026, Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 15 Presiding Judge Eduardo Ramon Reyes acquitted Teves, along with Richard Cuadra and Rolando Pinili, citing the prosecution’s failure to establish a prima facie case.

The court granted the accused’s demurrers to the evidence, which challenged the sufficiency of the prosecution’s evidence.

Despite the acquittal, Teves continues to face multiple charges related to the Pamplona massacre, including murder, attempted murder, and frustrated murder. 

Arrested suspects in the attack had earlier named a “Cong. Teves” as the alleged mastermind. Teves has consistently denied involvement, saying the killing of Degamo was politically motivated.

Teves is also facing other criminal cases. In September 2025, Manila RTC Branch 12 recommended bail of P120,000 for his temporary liberty in a separate murder case involving the death of Lester Bato, a bodyguard of Basay mayoralty candidate Cliff Cordova, who was killed in May 2019.

The National Bureau of Investigation said in June 2025 that Teves was also charged with murder before Bayawan RTC Branch 63; illegal possession of firearms and explosives before Manila RTC Branch 12; and violations of the Terrorist Financing Prevention and Suppression Act before Quezon City RTC Branch 77.