Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, legal counsel for detained former Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr., said his client refused to enter a plea during his arraignment at the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 12 on Thursday, citing “serious legal complications” arising from his controversial repatriation from Timor-Leste.
In a media interview, Topacio said the arraignment pushed through as scheduled, but Teves did not enter a plea due to unresolved jurisdictional concerns.
“Congressman Teves was brought to court, but he did not enter a plea due to certain legal complications in Timor-Leste,” said Topacio. “So the court entered a not guilty plea for him, and pre-trial proceeded accordingly.”
The arraignment involved charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives.
Topacio added that preliminary proceedings also began for other pending murder complaints against Teves — excluding the high-profile case involving the assassination of Governor Roel Degamo.
Although Topacio was not present in court due to an engagement in Cebu City, he said he was constantly updated by other defense lawyers. “There was nothing earth-shaking today. Everything went as expected,” he said.
The defense maintains that Teves’ repatriation violated legal processes in Timor-Leste, especially after its courts issued a final and executory decision denying the Philippine government’s extradition request.
“The government of Timor-Leste disregarded a writ of habeas corpus and turned him over to Philippine authorities anyway,” Topacio claimed. “Their Parliament is now investigating this irregularity.”
When asked whether the defense plans to file a motion to stop the trial, Topacio clarified: “We do not believe we can plead that as a defense in abatement. It’s not to halt the proceedings, but to make a point — that we still hold the opinion that there was something rotten in the state of Denmark, so to speak, in how Mr. Teves was brought back.”
Topacio said the act of refusing to plead was both symbolic and legal: “It is an act of protest against the actuations of the Philippine government, especially the executive branch.”
He confirmed that the murder charge heard on Thursday stemmed from a 2019 case unrelated to Degamo’s assassination. He also claimed the case had undergone preliminary investigation before and that Teves had previously been exonerated.
“This is just further proof that these cases are nothing but political harassment,” he said.
Topacio noted that Teves entered a not guilty plea in the 2019 murder case. “If we pleaded guilty, then we’re basically finished. It would mean immediate sentencing,” he added.
Now that Teves is under Philippine jurisdiction, Topacio said the proceedings will move forward. “Let’s give the process some time,” he said.