Arnie Teves

Arnolfo "Arnie" Alipit Teves Jr. (born August 10, 1971) is a Filipino politician and businessman. He most recently served as the Representative of Negros Oriental's 3rd district from 2016 until his resignation in 2023. He also served as a deputy speaker from 2020 to 2022 in the 18th Congress. Born into a political family from Negros Oriental, Teves entered politics in 2010 as the barangay captain of Malabugas in Bayawan. As president of the province's Liga ng mga Barangay, he served as an ex officio member of the Negros Oriental Provincial Board from 2011 to 2016. In the 2016 elections, he won the congressional seat vacated by his younger brother, Pryde Henry. In the House of Representatives, Teves supported the war on drugs and the shutdown of ABS-CBN. On March 4, 2023, Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo was assassinated. Two of the arrested suspects named a certain "Cong. Teves" as the mastermind of the killing. Teves had a political rivalry with Degamo but denied his involvement in the killing and was abroad at that time. Teves refused to return to the Philippines, citing a "very grave threat" to his life and his family. After initially suspending him, the House of Representatives unanimously expelled Teves in August 2023, making him the first congressman to be expelled since the establishment of the Fifth Republic (1986). Later that month, the Department of Justice filed murder charges against Teves, and a warrant for his arrest was issued by a Manila court. The Anti-Terrorism Council also designated him a terrorist, and an Interpol Red Notice was issued for him. In March 2024, Teves was arrested by local police in Timor-Leste, where he had attempted to seek political asylum. He was released in June 2024, but his extradition to the Philippines was being processed. He was later deported from Timor-Leste in May 2025.