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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DOJ mulls transfer, consolidation of Ex-Rep Teves' cases to Metro Manila courts

DOJ mulls transfer, consolidation of Ex-Rep Teves' cases to Metro Manila courts

Published Jun 3, 2025 02:40 pm

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has started studying the possibility of transferring to Metro Manila court and the consolidation of all the criminal cases filed against expelled congressman Arnolfo A. Teves Jr.

Before the Manila regional trial court (RTC), Teves was charged with 10 counts of murder, 13 counts of frustrated murder, and five counts of attempted murder in the killings of 10 persons, one of them Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamon, in March 2023.

Teves was also charged with one count of murder before the Manila RTC and the Bayawan City RTC.

At the same time, Teves has a case for illegal possession of firearms and explosives before the Manila RTC; and terrorism financing cases before the Quezon City RTC.

Teves has been deported to the Philippines by Timor-Leste and is now detained at the facility of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) at the National Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City.

The trial courts have been informed of Teves’ custody.  The NBI had said it will await the courts’ schedules for his arraignment to plead guilty or not guilty to the criminal charges.

DOJ Assistant Secretary Jose Dominic F. Clavano IV told journalists on Tuesday, June 3, that Prosecutor General Richard Anthony D. Fadullon is already looking to transfer the cases to Metro Manila or have these consolidated.

Transfer of criminal cases from one court to another needs the approval of the Supreme Court (SC).

“As per consultation with the prosecutor general, he will still analyze and study kung kailangan pa dapat i-manifest at i-move for the consolidation (if there is a need to manifest or move for the consolidation),” he said.

He also said that Fadullon will be consulting with the prosecutors handling the various cases filed against Teves.

“So mga considerations d’yan ay kung yung ebidensya or yung mga testigo ay pareha-parehas e ‘di mas maganda siguro kung i-consolidate natin sa isang kaso. So we will have to see if the requisites tumutugma yung mga for the consolidation of cases and then we will file the necessary motions in court (So the considerations include if the evidence or witnesses are the same so this means it would be better to consolidate the cases),” he explained.

At the same time, Clavano pointed out “concern po talaga natin ang security ni Ginoong Teves (We are concerned for the security of Mr. Teves).”

“Kaya siguro (Maybe) we will have to manifest to the court one of two things. Either consolidate or payagan siyang mag-video conferencing (Teves be allowed to undergo video conferencing),” he also said.

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