Teves under NBI custody in Bilibid

Expelled Negros Oriental congressman Arnolfo Teves Jr. was transferred yesterday to the National Bureau of Investigation's detention facility inside the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) compound in Muntinlupa after being deported from Timor-Leste.

- MARK ERNEST VILLEZA

NBI Deputy Director for Operations Antonio Pagatpat said the agency is preparing a return of the warrant of arrest to inform the court that Teves is now under their custody, in accordance with standard procedure.

Pagatpat clarified that the facility, located in Building 14, is not under BuCor's supervision, but is operated exclusively by the NBI.

NBI Director Jaime Santiago meanwhile emphasized that the detention center is separate from those holding convicted individuals.

"Once we return the warrant of arrest and submit a certificate of detention, the court may proceed to schedule the arraignment," Santiago said.

He also gave assurance that Teves would be treated properly while in custody.

"There will be no tricks or irregularities at the detention center. All detainees are treated equally, no torture, no special treatment. I gave strict orders. Detainees will not be allowed to roam freely," he said.

Santiago added that Teves would initially be held in a separate cell, not as a privilege, but to help him adjust to detention conditions. "We will place him in a solo cell first so he can acclimatize to being in detention. It's a gradual process," he explained.

The next steps, Santiago said, depend on whether the court issues a commitment order that could determine Teves' final place of detention.

His lawyer, Ferdinand Topacio, is expected to respond to the court's directive accordingly.

Around 12:46 p.m. on yesterday, Teves arrived at the NBI detention facility in Muntinlupa onboard a bulletproof vehicle while wearing a kevlar vest and helmet.

Teves is facing multiple charges, including murder, frustrated murder, attempted murder, and illegal possession of firearms and explosives, in connection with the assassination of Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo and nine others on March 4, 2023.