FORMER Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. underwent a “successful surgery” at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) on Wednesday morning after complaining of severe stomach pain, according to his lawyer.
“I am very happy to report that the operation on Rep. Arnie Teves at the Philippine General Hospital was successful. He is now recuperating well,” lawyer Ferdinand Topacio said in a statement.
Teves, who is currently detained at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City, was first rushed to a private hospital early Tuesday before being transferred to PGH later that night. Topacio said the surgery was performed early Wednesday.
“We wish to thank University of the Philippines Manila Chancellor Dr. Michael Tee for arranging the transfer to PGH with dispatch. We would also like to express our appreciation to Dr. Marc Paul Lopez, a.k.a. Ancoy, and his dedicated team, for skillfully addressing what was potentially a life-threatening medical condition,” he added.
Topacio also criticized the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 51 for the alleged delays in providing medical attention to his client.
“It also demonstrates the potentially fatal results when trial courts, such as Branch 51 of the Regional Trial Court of Manila, do not abide by directives of the Supreme Court concerning the issuance of commitment orders, thus short-circuiting the judicial process for the safeguarding of detention prisoners,” Topacio said.
He also responded to Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo, widow of slain Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo, who earlier dismissed the complaints of Teves’ camp as “drama.”
“The operation performed on Mr. Teves proves that, far from being ‘drama,’ the complaint of a medical condition was legitimate,” he said.
Teves is facing multiple charges for the murder of Gov. Degamo and several others in the March 2023 attack in Negros Oriental. The cases are pending before Manila RTC Branch 51.
