Interpol `red notice’ out vs Teves

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FORMER congressman Arnulfo “Arnie” Teves Jr., primary suspect in last year’s killing of Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo, has been placed in the “red notice” system of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said yesterday.

A red notice is not an international arrest warrant but a request to law enforcement authorities worldwide to locate and keep tabs on an individual pending his or her extradition, surrender, or other legal action.

Remulla explained that an Interpol red notice is the closest to an international arrest warrant.

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“Para itong equivalent ng international warrant of arrest at lahat ng miyembro ng Interpol ay put on notice about it. A red notice ay para na ring international warrant of arrest (It is like an equivalent to an internal warrant of arrest and all Interpol members are put on notice),” he said.

Remulla also said the Department of Foreign Affairs has complied with a Manila court order earlier this month to cancel Teves’ passport. He said the cancellation was made “just this past week.”

Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 51 Judge Presiding Judge Merianthe Pacita Zuraek said Teves can be considered a fugitive from justice because of his failure to return to the country from the United States after the expiration of his travel authority on March 9, 2023.

Teves has been tagged as the mastermind in the March 4, 2023 attack in Negros Oriental by heavily armed gunmen that killed Degamo and nine others.

Teves is also facing murder charges for the 2019 killings of three individuals in Negros, including a former board member.

Teves has denied all accusations but refused to return to the country, saying he feared for his safety.

Earlier, Remulla said Teves was staying in Cambodia, Timor-Leste and Thailand. It was in Timor-Leste where he sought political asylum but was rejected by authorities.

Remulla said Teves is still in Timor-Leste, adding with the cancellation of his passport and the Interpol red notice, he would find it difficult to leave the country and evade efforts of Philippine authorities to bring him back to the country.

Asked when Teves will be brought back to the country, Remulla said it could take time.

But Remulla said the easiest way to bring Remulla back to the country is if Timor-Leste authorities just surrender him, especially with him being included in the Interpol’s red notice

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