The Court of Appeals has ordered the delisting from the terrorism designation of Pryde Henry Teves, brother of former Negros Oriental lawmaker Arnolfo Teves Jr. In a ruling dated December 18, 2025, the court found no probable cause for his designation under the Anti-Terrorism Act. It also mandated the unfreezing of his assets.
In a 45-page ruling dated December 18, 2025, the Court of Appeals determined that the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) and Anti-Money Laundering Council lacked probable cause to designate Pryde Henry Teves as a terrorist. The decision noted that the original designation under ATC Resolution No. 43 (2023) failed to specify Teves's particular involvement or contributions to the alleged terrorist group.
"This, by itself, is already a basis for a finding of grave abuse of discretion," the court's ruling stated. It further highlighted that the designation stemmed from a gross misapprehension of facts and a misapplication of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).
Teves was designated on July 26, 2023, alongside his brother Arnolfo Teves Jr. and 11 others, over alleged ties to the March 3, 2023, killing of former Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo. However, witnesses lacked personal knowledge that Teves orchestrated or ordered the crimes; their accounts relied on suspicion arising from the Teves family's political rivalries with the victims.
"Given all the foregoing disquisition, We FIND and so HOLD that respondents acted with grave abuse of discretion in issuing the assailed resolutions in that petitioner's designation as a terrorist was without probable cause and was in gross application of Our law against terrorism," the court declared. Consequently, it reversed ATC Resolutions Nos. 50 (2023) and 56 (2024), ordering Teves's name removed from the lists and his assets unfrozen.
This decision provides relief to Teves, who filed a certiorari petition challenging his designation.
