A Manila court has granted the bail petition filed by former Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. in one of his murder cases, but his camp said that he will not be released yet due to other pending cases.
In a 29-page order dated September 10, the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 12 recommended a bail of P120,000 for his temporary liberty.
“We still have pending bail petitions in two other cases,” lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, Teves’ legal counsel, said in a message to reporters.
“However, this is a manifestation that the cases against Mr. Teves are weak since they are just politically motivated,” he added.
GMA News Online has asked prosecutors for comment and will update the story once it is available.
JUST IN: Dating Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves, pinayagan ng Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 12 na makapagpiyansa kaugnay sa kinakaharap niyang kasong murder — Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, legal counsel ni Teves | via @dzbbsamnielsen pic.twitter.com/H7xMQE6klE
— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) September 12, 2025
Topacio said that Teves will only be released once all his bail petitions are granted.
This is over the death of Lester Bato, a bodyguard for Basay mayoralty candidate Cliff Cordova in May 2019.
Aside from this case, Teves is also facing murder charges for the killing of two other individuals in Negros Oriental in 2019.
He also has a murder, attempted murder, and frustrated murder case over the killing of late Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and others on March 4, 2023 at the Degamo residence in Pamplona, Negros Oriental.
Teves has refused to enter a plea in his cases, prompting various Manila courts to enter a not guilty plea for him.
The Anti-Terrorism Council has designated him and others as terrorists, citing several alleged killings and harassment in Negros Oriental. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
