MANILA — The Court of Appeals has cleared Pryde Henry A. Teves, brother of former Negros Oriental lawmaker Arnolfo Teves Jr., from his terrorism designation and ordered the government to unfreeze his assets.

In a 45-page ruling dated December 18, 2025, the appellate court granted Teves’ petition for certiorari, effectively nullifying his designation under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

“WHEREFORE, the petition is GRANTED. Accordingly, ATC Resolution Number 50 (2023) and ATC Resolution No. 56 (2024) are REVERSED and SET ASIDE. The name PRYDE HENRY A. TEVES, and all reference to said individual, is ORDERED DELISTED and/or STRICKEN from ATC Resolution Number 43 (2023) and its concomitant sanction freeze order, Resolution No. TF-.69,” the ruling stated.

The designation originally came on July 26, 2023, when the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) labeled Arnolfo Teves Jr., his brother, and 11 others as terrorists, citing alleged violations of the Anti-Terrorism Act. The move was linked to Arnolfo Teves Jr.’s alleged involvement in the killing of former Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo on March 3, 2023, which led to the arrest of his brother.

The Court of Appeals found that both the ATC and the Anti-Money Laundering Council failed to establish probable cause to designate Pryde Henry Teves. The court said ATC Resolution No. 43 did not clearly detail the petitioner’s specific participation or contribution to any alleged terrorist group.

“This, by itself, is already a basis for a finding of grave abuse of discretion,” the ruling read. “Worse, it became manifest during the proceedings that respondents’ finding of probable cause is founded on a gross misapprehension of the facts and gross application of the ATA.”

The court also noted that the witnesses presented had no personal knowledge that Teves masterminded or ordered the crimes attributed to him. Their testimonies were largely based on “mere suspicion” fueled by the fact that the victims were political opponents or critics of the Teves family, rather than concrete evidence of his involvement.

The appellate court ruled that the respondents acted with grave abuse of discretion, stating that Teves’ designation as a terrorist lacked probable cause and amounted to a “gross application” of the Anti-Terrorism Act. Consequently, the corresponding freezing of his assets was also deemed unjustified.

“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 designation being improper, the corresponding freezing of his assets is likewise unjustified,” the ruling concluded.