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Former Negros Oriental Representative Arnulfo “Arnie” Teves has once again refrained from entering a plea, this time during his scheduled arraignment this afternoon at the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 51 in connection with the high-profile murder case of Governor Roel Degamo.

The proceedings are being held through video teleconferencing, a setup that has become increasingly common in high-profile or high-security cases.

Teves’s decision not to enter a plea today stands in contrast to what transpired just last week, when the Manila RTC Branch 12 recorded a “not guilty” plea on his behalf for separate charges. These earlier charges involve alleged illegal possession of explosives under Section 3 of Presidential Decree 1866, as amended by Republic Act 9516, and illegal possession of firearms under Section 28(b) of Republic Act 10591.

Adding a layer of complexity to the already controversial case, Teves’s legal counsel, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, previously told the media that the government of Timor Leste failed to comply with a writ of habeas corpus issued by the Tribunal de Recursos. According to Topacio, this legal oversight is now prompting an investigation by Timor Leste’s parliament into the circumstances surrounding Teves’s turnover to Philippine authorities.

As the legal proceedings continue, the public and observers alike await how the courts—and the political landscape—will respond to the mounting legal challenges and diplomatic questions surrounding the former lawmaker.