By Junex Doronio
MANILA – Returning to the country without expelled Negros Oriental congressman Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr., National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Medardo De Lemos said he pitied the murder suspect upon seeing him inside his detention cell in Timor-Leste.
On Sunday (24 March 2024), De Lemos said no less than Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta allowed the NBI to capture a photo of Teves inside his detention cell as only a “proof of life.”
“Eh sabi namin papaano namin malalaman na si Congressman Teves ‘yan. Hindi nila mai-harap sa amin si Congressman Teves dahil nakadapa ang tao sa selda, kung si Congressman man yun eh naawa kami,” De Lemos said.
Teves, who is now tagged as a terrorist, faces murder cases over the killing of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo in March 2023.
On July 26, 2023, the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) designated him, his brother Pryde Henry and 11 others as terrorists due to their links to “alleged killings and harassments,” including Degamo’s murder, in Negros Oriental.
The NBI chief said that Timor-Leste authorities are still evaluating the request of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) and the country’s request for the custody of the former congressman.
“Legal process po ito ng Timor (…) at tayo naman bilang requesting party sa pamamagitan ng Interpol ay mag-aantay kung ano ang termination point at process nila doon sa kanilang bansa,” De Lemos explained.
Meanwhile, it was learned that Teves’ legal team will also seek political asylum for him in Timor-Leste, where he was arrested while practicing golf at a driving range last week by local police.
But Department of Justice (DOJ) Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano maintained that the multiple murder, attempted murder, and frustrated murder cases against Teves will have to go through the Philippine justice system.
(el Amigo/MNM)
