JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla yesterday said expelled congressman Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. is most likely moving around and hiding in Timor Leste, Cambodia and Thailand to evade the murder and frustrated murder charges filed against him in connection with the March 4 attack that killed his political rival, Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, and nine others.
Remulla said he is confident the prosecution’s case against Teves is airtight and would result in the issuance of a warrant of arrest by the trial court.
Aside from the Degamo case, Teves is also charged in the 2019 killings of three individuals in Negros Oriental.
“We are confident the courts will be positive in the grant of warrants of arrest. After this is done, then we will have the right to inform the United Nations of this, that the designated terrorist now has murder cases and should stand trial in our country and that we are asking them to ask the member-states of the UN to acknowledge their duty of rendition to bring back Mr. Teves to the Philippines for trial,” Remulla told reporters.
The Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) last month designated Teves, his brother Pryde Henry Teves, and 11 others as terrorists under the Anti-Terrorism Law of 2020.
Remulla said Teves would have difficulty moving around once an arrest warrant is issued.
The Philippines has extradition treaties with Thailand, Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Spain, Russia, South Korea, United States, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Teves earlier sought political asylum in Timor Leste but was denied by that country’s government.
Remulla said while they are waiting for the court to issue a warrant of arrest, the terrorist designation froze Teves’ assets, adding that the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) is also studying what other measures can be taken against the former lawmaker.
The Teves camp has yet to issue a statement on Remulla’s remarks though the former has repeatedly denied having a hand in the killing of Degamo.
Teves refused to return to the country saying he feared for his safety despite repeated assurances from the authorities, including from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to secure him.
