THE Department of Justice yesterday said Timor-Leste’s Court of Appeals may render a decision on Manila’s request for the return of former Negros Oriental congressman Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. before the end of this month.
This as it said Teves’ extradition trial before the appellate court ended last Friday.
According to the DOJ, both parties were given time to submit their positions and arguments.
“Submission is sequential not simultaneous. Timor-Leste Central Authority will have to submit first its memorandum/position paper followed by Teves camp,” the DOJ said in a statement yesterday.
“The Court of Appeals of Timor-Leste, thereafter, will have five days to render its decision. It is anticipated that a decision will come by or close to the end of June,” it added.
The department said it is confident Timor-Leste’s appellate court will rule in its favor, considering evidence presented against Teves’ continued stay in that country and his bid for political asylum.
“The DOJ is optimistic that a favorable decision will be made by the Court of Appeals, particularly as our witnesses were able to effectively counter the arguments raised by the camp of Teves,” the DOJ added.
Teves’ lawyer Ferdinand Topacio declined to give an assessment of the hearings.
“All I would like to say on record is that we gave it our best shot, and hope and pray that the East Timor court would follow what is in the Constitution, without regard to the diplomatic pressure that the Philippine government has been exerting,” he said.
Teves is under house arrest in Timor-Leste after the appellate court said he is still a flight risk.
Teves was tagged mastermind in the March 2023 attack that killed Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and nine others. He is also facing murder charges in connection with several killings in the province in 2019.
Teves denied the accusations but refused to return to the country.
