MANILA, Philippines – Timor-Leste has again granted the Philippine government’s petition to extradite former lawmaker and fugitive Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves, the Philippine Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Thursday, December 5.
This was the second time the Timorese Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the Philippine government.
“The second round of extradition hearings was a result of the procedural objections made by the camp of Teves despite bringing it up as a ‘late appeal’ after whole-heartedly and voluntarily participating in a proceeding he only refuted after receiving an ‘unfavorable decision,'” the DOJ said in a statement.
“This is a resounding victory for the Filipino people, a testament of our present government’s unyielding commitment to attain real time Justice at all costs,” DOJ chief Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla said.
Rappler has already clarified to the DOJ if the former Negros Oriental 3rd District representative can still appeal the recent decision. We will update this story once the agency replies.
Meanwhile, Teves’ counsel, Ferdinand Topacio, did not provide any statement, as of writing.
As early as June, the Timorese court had already granted the Philippine government’s petition to extradite the fugitive who had been in hiding in the Southeast Asian country for months. But not long after, Teves found a way to buy time and delay his return to the country.
He filed a motion to appeal the court decision in September, not based on merits, but based on the proceedings. This what triggered the new round of proceedings on the extradition case.
Teves, an expelled lawmaker, was the alleged mastermind behind the killing of Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo in 2023, and was also implicated in the 2019 killings in his home province. With these, warrants have been issued against him, but he was never arrested in the Philippines.
Instead, he was nabbed in Timor-Leste after being placed under Interpol’s red notice alert on the basis of the Philippine warrants. Up to now, Teves has yet to be put into trial in the Philippines as his extradition has yet to be finalized and take effect. – Rappler.com