MANILA – The Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed that the Philippines’ request for the extradition of former Negros Oriental congressman Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves was granted by Timor-Leste.
Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano said they are looking forward to the arrival of Teves in the Philippines to face his cases, including the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.
“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,” Clavano said.
He added: “We look forward to the arrival of Mr. Teves so that he may finally face the charges against him in our local courts.”
Teves’ lawyer, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, said in a statement sent to Panay News that the DOJ still cannot claim victory as 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. For one, the judgment is still appealable, a recourse that we have every intention of taking. Then we still have the option of political asylum,” Topacio said.
Topacio added that, even if his client is extradited, Teves will have to be tried first by the Manila court handling his cases before being ruled guilty on 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,” Topacio said.
“You still have to defend your planted evidence, in light of the recent rulings of the courts revealing their bogus nature and the admission to bail of Mr. Teves’ co-accused on the ground of weak evidence,” he added.
Teves was arrested in Dili, Timor Leste last March while playing golf based on the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) red notice issued against him in February.
The red notice stemmed from the multiple murder charges filed against Teves for for the killing of Degamo and others at the home of the then-governor in Negros Oriental 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.
Teves and 12 others have also been designated as terrorists by the Anti-Terrorism Council, citing several alleged killings and harassment in Negros Oriental.
He was also expelled by the House of Representatives in August last year for disorderly conduct and continued absence despite an expired travel authority./PN
