MANILA – Former Negros Oriental 3rd District representative Arnolfo Teves Jr. remains in Timor-Leste as he waits for the outcome of his appeal regarding the extradition request of the Philippine Government.
Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, one of Teves ‘ legal counsels, said they are still awaiting for the decision of Timor-Leste’s Court of Appeals after the Timor-Leste Court of Appeals granted the Department of Justice’s request to extradite Teves.
“In general, nasa Dili (Timor-Leste) pa po siya. We are awaiting the outcome of our appeal from the order or decision of the Tribunal de Recurso allowing extradition,” Topacio said in a press conference over the weekend.
“Kasi appealable pa po ‘yan doon sa plenary ng Court of Appeals o Tribunal de Recurso ng Republic of Timor Leste,” he added.
Teves is facing multiple murder charges in the Philippines for the alleged murder of Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo and others in March 2023.
Timor-Leste previously granted the country’s extradition request for Teves in June last year, but Teves’ camp contested the ruling on procedural grounds, specifically on the number of judges involved in the decision.
Aside from the murder of Degamo, Teves and others have also been charged with the deaths of three individuals in Negros Oriental in 2019. He was also designated as terrorists by the Anti-Terrorism Council.
He was also expelled by the House of Representatives in August last year for disorderly conduct and continued absence./PN
