Detained Former Lawmaker Arnie Teves Transported to Undisclosed Hospital
ARNIE TEVES – The former Negros Oriental Congressman was rushed to a hospital this morning as per his lawyer, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio.
After two (2) years of continuous legal battle in Timor-Leste to avoid extradition to the Philippines where several charges were filed against him, Teves was deported back to the country last May 29. It came after the foreign authorities arrested him at his house in Dili.
Former Negros Oriental Cong. Teves was reportedly arrested by the immigration officers for the lack of a valid travel Visa as well as an authorization to stay in Timor-Leste. His camp immediately filed the writ of Habeas corpus which challenged his detention.
However, the Timor-Leste court ruled for the deportation of former Cong. Arnie Teves to the Philippines. Immediately the following day since he was arrested at his residence in Dili, the former Lawmaker was brought back from Timor-Leste to PH.
Teves boarded a Philippine Air Force plane back to the Philippines. He has been detained under the Philippine authorities since his deportation from Timor-Leste. The former Negros Oriental Congressman is faced with several charges including the case over the allegation that he was allegedly the mastermind in the killing of their family’s political rival, the late former Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.
Teves maintained his innocence all throughout the two (2) years that he was away from the Philippines since he was tagged in the death of Degamo. During a media conference, the former Negros Oriental Congressman claimed that he is both sad and glad over the unexpected turn of event that led him back to the country after two (2) years.
According to Arnie Teves, he is sad that he will have to be under detention while the legal process over the charges against him is ongoing. On the other side, he is glad to finally see his mother again after two (2) years. He also shared that his father died last December and he was not able to go home.
Recently, amid the former Negros Oriental Congressman being detained, his lawyer, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, confirmed that Arnie Teves was rushed to a hospital early today. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, the lawyer said Teves “has been complaining of severe stomach pains since midnight last night”.
According to Teves’ lawyer, the former Negros Oriental lawmaker was given medical attention at around 5:00 o’clock in the morning and was “transported to the hospital”. However, for security reasons, his camp refused to name the hospital where he was brought.
More updates may be posted soon…
Previously, prior to his return to the country, former Cong. Arnie Teves requested from the authorities not to put handcuff to him.