Former Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. is now under the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) after arriving from Timor-Leste on May 30.
According to NBI Director Jaime Santiago, the former lawmaker was allowed to temporarily stay at the NBI office in Pasay City overnight as a humanitarian consideration due to exhaustion from travel.
Teves arrived shortly past midnight and immediately underwent a medical checkup before being fingerprinted and processed through standard documentation procedures.
His lawyer, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, as well as his mother, Zenaida Teves, were present at the NBI office to accompany him during the process.
Topacio shared that the former congressman’s mother was emotional and excited, as the two had not seen each other for over two years.
He also commended Director Santiago for granting Teves temporary stay at the NBI office before his transfer to a detention facility.
Topacio noted that legal steps are already underway to address and defend Teves against the charges he faces.
Teves has been accused of masterminding the assassination of former Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, a case that has drawn national attention.