MANILA – The Department of Justice’s National Prosecution Service will seek to challenge the acquittal of former Negros Oriental representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. in connection with the 2019 killing of former provincial board member Miguel Lopez Dungog.

At a press briefing, DOJ prosecutor general Richard Anthony Fadullon said his office is exploring all available remedies to question the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 15 decision, either 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.

He emphasized that Teves remains in detention due to other pending non-bailable cases.

In a Jan. 5 order, Manila RTC Branch 15 granted the demurrers to evidence filed by Teves and his co-accused Richard Cuadra and Rolando Pinili, effectively dismissing the murder case over what the court deemed insufficient evidence.

“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 said.

“But I think we could question that,” he added.

Teves is facing multiple other cases, including 10 counts of murder, 13 counts of frustrated murder, and four counts of attempted murder before Manila RTC Branch 51; one count of murder each at Manila RTC Branch 12 and Bayawan RTC Branch 63 in Negros Oriental; illegal possession of firearms and explosives at Manila RTC Branch 12; and violations of the Terrorist Financing Prevention and Suppression Act at Quezon City RTC Branch 77.