Former lawmaker Arnolfo Teves Jr.’s mugshot taken during processing at the National Bureau of Investigation headquarters in Pasay City. — Photo from NBI
MANILA, Philippines — Former Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. will remain at the National Bureau of Investigation detention facility in the New Bilibid Prison until the court orders his arraignment, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Tuesday.
“We have not yet received an order from the court scheduling the arraignment. The first step is to submit the return so the court knows Mr. Teves is in our custody. But until there’s an order from the court, he will be detained at the NBI,” said DOJ spokesperson Jose Dominic Clavano IV.
READ: DOJ: No special treatment for ex-lawmaker Teves
Clavano said the Prosecutor General is studying the transfer and potential consolidation of the multiple cases filed against Teves in courts in Manila and Bayawan City, Negros Oriental.
An earlier Inquirer report said Teves is facing 31 cases ranging from murder, frustrated murder, attempted murder, terrorism financing and illegal possession of firearms and explosives. —Tetch Torres-Tupas