The lawyer of former Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo Teves remains uncertain whether his client will be granted bail in a murder case pending before the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 12.

Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, who attended Teves’ bail hearing yesterday, simply said they are grateful to the court for allowing them to present their arguments.

“Hindi pa natin masabi, mahirap pa magsalita eh. Hintayin na lang po natin. Baka sabihin ay we are trying to influence the court,” he said.

“Binibigyan naman po kami ni Judge Enciso ng pagkakataon na marinig ang aming panig. Wala po kaming reklamo kay Judge Enciso. He is very fair and very balanced,” he added.

But a lawyer of Gemuel Hobro, a witness in the case, is confident evidence will lead the court to deny Teves’ petition.

“I think the pieces of evidence, in my opinion, mag-e-effect siya na hindi ma-grant ‘yung bail. That is what I expect,” said Atty. Ferdinand Benitez.

Benitez said Hobro was initially set to testify on August 8, but will instead be presented on August 11 due to issues raised by the Witness Protection Program.

Teves is accused of involvement in the 2019 killing of Lester Bato, a bodyguard of a mayoral candidate.

Aside from the murder case, Teves is also facing charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives in the same court.

He is also tagged as the mastermind in the killing of former Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and 10 others on March 4, 2023. (ABS-CBN News)