MANILA — A Manila court has granted the bail petition of former Negros Oriental representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. in connection with a 2019 murder case.

However, his lawyer said Teves will remain in detention for now due to another pending case.

“There is one more pending case,” lawyer Ferdinand Topacio said in a message to reporters.

In a 27-page resolution, the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 30 set bail at P500,000 for Teves over the alleged killing of Pacito Libron in June 2019 in Bayawan City, Bayawan City.

The court said the prosecution alleged conspiracy in the killing, citing a witness who claimed Teves ordered the attack. However, it ruled that the evidence presented was not strong enough to establish conspiracy among all accused.

“With regard to the allegation of conspiracy, the Court finds that the prosecution failed to establish that the evidence of conspiracy was strong amongst all the accused in allegedly killing herein victim Pacito Libron,” it said.

For his co-accused, the court set bail at P250,000.

The court also cited Teves’ status as a former lawmaker in determining the higher bail amount.

“The Court also does not ignore the fact that a few years ago, accused Teves fled the country and tried to seek asylum in East Timor. Thus, the Court finds that a higher amount should be fixed as to accused Teves in order to balance the scales of justice,” it said.

Teves is currently detained at a National Bureau of Investigation facility inside the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.

He is also facing multiple counts of murder, frustrated murder, and attempted murder over the 2023 killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and others.