MANILA — The Court of Appeals of Timor-Leste has reaffirmed its decision to extradite former Philippine Congressman Arnolfo Teves Jr., according to the Department of Justice (DoJ) on Wednesday (28 Aug 2024).

The court rejected Teves’ motion for reconsideration, confirming that the initial ruling remains in effect. The DoJ shared this update following an official communication from Timor-Leste’s Prosecutor General.

“We wish to inform the public that this motion has been denied,” the DoJ stated, emphasizing its commitment to transparency throughout the process. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla hailed the decision as “a significant step forward” in the pursuit of justice.

“This ruling illustrates that justice proceeds regardless of an individual’s status,” Remulla noted.

Teves faces serious charges including 10 counts of murder, 12 counts of frustrated murder, and four counts of attempted murder in the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 51, related to the March 4, 2023, shootings in Pamplona, Negros Oriental.

He also faces multiple murder charges for a series of killings in Negros Oriental in 2019.

Designated a terrorist by the Anti-Terrorism Council in August 2023, Teves had sought political asylum in Timor-Leste but was apprehended in Dili last March while playing golf.

ia/mnm

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Expelled Negros Oriental congressman Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. is coming home soon after Timor Leste granted the extradition request of the Philippine government.

“The Department of Justice confirms the grant of the extradition request made by the Philippine government. The information was relayed to us by the Attorney-General of Timor Leste. We have won,” DOJ Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano said in a statement on Thursday (27 June 2024).

But Teves’ lawyer Atty. Ferdinand Topacio rebuked Clavano, saying the judgment of the Court of Appeals of Timor Leste is still appealable.

“Not so fast, Mr. Clavano. You have not won. Not by a long shot,” Topacio quipped.

It was gathered that the DOJ request is for Teves to face a Manila court for the multiple murder cases involving the death of Governor Roel Degamo and nine others.

“We look forward to the arrival of Mr. Teves so that he may finally face the charges against him in our local courts,” Clavano added.

Topacio argued that even if extradited, Teves would have to be tried first by the Manila court handling his cases.

“And even if you bring Mr. Teves back, you will still have to prove him guilty in the face of recantations by all witnesses previously against him who were tortured and intimidated into testifying falsely against him,” Topacio claimed.

To recall, it was Teves who filed a bill seeking to declare ghosting as an emotional offense without suggesting any penalties, instead stating that it “should be punished.”

According to Wikipedia, on August 16, 2023, Teves was unanimously expelled by the House of Representatives due to his abandonment of duty, prolonged absence, and “indecent behavior on social media.”

With this, he became the first expelled representative since the restoration of the Congress in 1987.

(el Amigo/mnm)

MANILA – The Department of Justice (DOJ) expressed optimism on Tuesday (11 June 2024) regarding the extradition of former Negros Oriental Congressman Arnolfo Teves Jr., following his re-arrest in Timor Leste.

“The department is confident that the extradition proceedings will be successful. Additionally, there is still a possibility of deportation, depending on the actions taken by the Timor Leste government in coordination with the Philippines,” stated DOJ spokesperson Assistant Secretary Jose Dominic Clavano IV in a news release.

Clavano refuted the claims made by Teves’ counsel, Ferdinand Topacio, that the former lawmaker had been provisionally released from Becora Prison in Dili, Timor Leste, pending his extradition trial. According to Topacio, the Timor Leste Court had allegedly declared Teves’ imprisonment illegal.

Clavano dismissed these claims as “purely misleading, highly irresponsible, and an insult to both Timor Leste and the Philippines.”

He clarified that Teves’ release and subsequent re-arrest, as well as his transfer to the Polícia Nacional de Timor-Leste (PNTL), are part of the judicial process and should not be seen as obstacles to his extradition.

“The DOJ has submitted all required documents in a timely and compliant manner with Timor Leste’s legal framework,” Clavano emphasized.

He added that Topacio, while advocating for his client, must act in a manner befitting his role as an officer of the court, respecting its dignity and integrity.

Teves is currently in the custody of the PNTL and will continue to face trial for his anticipated extradition.

Clavano underscored that the Philippines, as the requesting party, must respect and participate in the legal proceedings in Timor Leste.

“We appreciate the steps currently being taken by the Timor Leste government to facilitate his removal from their territory, and we eagerly anticipate his return to the Philippines to face multiple murder charges,” he added.

Teves is facing charges of 10 counts of murder, 12 counts of frustrated murder, and four counts of attempted murder before the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 51, in connection with the March 4, 2023 shootings in Pamplona, Negros Oriental.

(El Amigo/mnm)

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Declining to provide details, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio on Monday claimed that his client expelled Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. has been released from preventive detention in Becora Prison in Dili, Timor Leste.

In reaction, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said the release “was quite improbable” but it would check with authorities in Timor Leste.

“Rep. Arnoldo Teves released from preventive detention,” Topacio said in a message to reporters.

However, Topacio said their camp has no further comments, adding a formal statement would be released later.

To recall, Teves was arrested in Dili in March while playing golf based on the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) red notice issued against him in February.

It was learned that a red notice is a request for law enforcement worldwide to locate and arrest a person pending his extradition, surrender, or similar legal action.

The notice emanated from the multiple murder charges filed against Teves for the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and others at the home of the then-governor on March 4, 2023.

Aside from the murder of Degamo, Teves and others have also been charged with the deaths of three individuals in Negros Oriental in 2019.

The House of Representatives expelled Teves in August last year for his disorderly conduct and continued absence despite an expired travel authority.

(el amigo/MNM)

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Claiming that expelled congressman and fugitive Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. is being persecuted in the Philippines, lawyer Ferdinand Topacio on Tuesday said he was “hopeful” that his client would be granted political asylum or refugee status in Timor-Leste.

This developed as the Philippine government vigorously pushes for Teves’ deportation.

“He is not being prosecuted in the normal process. He is being persecuted with the end view of pinning him down, notwithstanding the constitutional guarantees of the presumption of innocence,” Topacio quipped in an interview with ANC.

He cited the Philippine government’s supposed political persecution of Teves, who faces criminal charges in the country in connection with the murder of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and 9 others in March 2023.

At the same time, Teves was also tagged as a “terrorist” by the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) in August 2023.

With this designation by the ATC, it authorizes the Anti-Money Laundering Council to freeze Teves’ assets.

The former representative of Negros Oriental 3rd district is in the custody of the Timor-Leste police after authorities there arrested him last month in the capital Dili while he was playing golf.

Teves’ extradition to the Philippines is being worked out by the International Police (Interpol) national central bureaus of Dili and Manila and the Philippine Embassy in Dili.

(el Amigo/mnm)

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)