The Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 12, which is handling former Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr.’s separate murder case, has granted his motion to defer his arraignment and pre-trial, which were scheduled for Monday, 30 June.
Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, counsel of Teves, revealed in a message to reporters that the arraignment and pre-trial have been moved to 14 July at 8:30 a.m. via videoconferencing.
Teves’ legal team cited his current health condition as the primary reason for the deferment.
Topacio explained that while his client was expected to be discharged Monday or by Tuesday morning at the latest, he might not be “fit enough to attend personally, as required by the presiding judge.”
Aside from murder, Teves is also facing charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives in the same court.