MANILA – The extradition case of former Negros Oriental 3rd District congressman Arnolfo Teves Jr. needs to “undergo new proceedings” in Timor Leste, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).
According to Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano, the extradition case will have to undergo another trial before the Timor Leste’s Court of Appeals.
“Same exact evidence is to be presented but this time before three judges,” said Clavano. “The new proceedings resulted from the procedural objections made by the lawyers of Teves in Timor Leste.”
Clavano said the retrial was “clearly an afterthought” as it was raised only after the proceedings had concluded unfavorably for Teves.
“In Philippine law, such a move would be barred under the principle of estoppel, which prevents a party from challenging procedural issues if they actively participated in the process and failed to raise objections earlier,” Clavano said.
The DOJ, however, is confident that the outcome of the new proceedings will be the same as the previous decision and that Teves will soon be send back to the country to face the multiple murder charges lodged against him.
“No amount of underhanded tactics will derail our determination to get this fugitive home to face the murder charges. The victims need justice,” Clavano said.
Timor-Leste’s Court of Appeals has earlier granted the Philippines’ request for the extradition of Teves, but the camp of the former congressman appealed the verdict.
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 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
