The Department of Justice will challenge the court's acquittal of former Negros Oriental representative Arnolfo 'Arnie' Teves Jr. in the 2019 murder of provincial board member Miguel Lopez Dungog. DOJ Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon stated they are reviewing options to contest the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 15's decision. Teves remains detained due to other pending non-bailable cases.
During a press briefing on Friday, DOJ Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon announced that the National Prosecution Service is examining all available remedies to challenge the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 15's decision, possibly through a motion for reconsideration or an appeal to a higher court. 'Right now, we’re exerting efforts to see if, I think, there’s a motion for reconsideration that will be filed or whether or not we will still file one. But definitely, we will question the decision,' Fadullon said.
In a January 5 order, the court granted the demurrers to evidence filed by Teves, Richard Cuadra, and Rolando Pinili, leading to their acquittal on grounds of insufficient evidence from the prosecution panel. The court noted that only one witness testified against Teves, claiming he was the mastermind behind the killing, which it deemed inadequate. 'The court, in its decision, said that there was only one witness presented against former congressman Teves who testified that he (Teves) was the mastermind of the killing. The court said that was not enough,' Fadullon explained, adding, 'But I think we could question that.'
Despite this acquittal, Teves faces multiple other charges, including 10 counts of murder, 13 counts of frustrated murder, and four counts of attempted murder at Manila RTC Branch 51; one count of murder each at Manila RTC Branch 12 and Bayawan RTC Branch 63 in Negros Oriental. He is also charged with illegal possession of firearms and explosives at Manila RTC Branch 12 and violations of Republic Act 10168, the Terrorist Financing Prevention and Suppression Act, at Quezon City RTC Branch 77. These cases keep him in detention.
