The Manila regional trial court (RTC) ordered the immediate transfer of detained former Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo ‘Arnie’ Teves Jr. to the Metro Manila District Jail (MMDJ) in Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan, Taguig City.
In a five-page order released Wednesday, the Manila RTC Branch 51 junked the motion filed by Teves’ camp requesting that he be allowed to stay at the detention facility of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), which is inside the compound of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).
Teves’ camp reasoned using the conditions stated in his Certificate of Handover signed by Timor-Leste and the Philippine government before his deportation was allowed.
“This Court finds no merit in the motion of the accused to maintain his custody with the NBI detention facility,” the Manila RTC said.
The court said the certificate did not state specifically where Teves must be kept in custody which is a prerequisite for his transfer. It also rejected the claim of Teves that he may be subjected ‘torture, inhuman or degrading treatment.’
“While the detention facilities in our country may not possess the luxuries a person may have been accustomed to, the detention therein does not automatically make it inhuman or degrading treatment upon one detainee’s mere say so,” the court noted.
“Aside from this claim, the court failed to see any threats against the safety and life of the accused Teves, Jr. mentioned in the motion and how letting him remain in the custody of the NBI facility will secure him against said threats,” it added.
The court said Teves may be choosing the NBI detention facility for his own convenience.
The Manila RTC Branch 51 is hearing his cases of murder, frustrated murder and attempted murder. The complaints stemmed from the deaths of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and 10 others in 2023.
The Manila RTC Branch 12, which hears his case of illegal possession of firearms and explosives, earlier ordered that Teves be transferred to the Manila City Jail.
