Expelled solon arrested anew in Timor-Leste
EXPELLED Negros Oriental representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. yesterday filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus before a court in Timor-Leste court following his arrest on Tuesday night.
His lawyer, Ferdinand Topacio, said the petition questions the basis of the arrest of his client and possible deportation to Manila.
Earlier yesterday, Topacio said the immigration personnel who forcibly took Teves away from his residence in Dili did not present any warrant of arrest or any written authority to the former lawmaker or his Timorese lawyer.
“As we speak, his arrest is being questioned before the court in Timor-Leste through several petitions, including a petition for habeas corpus, invoking a provision in Timor-Leste’s Constitution that states that a judicial decision is mandatory and executory, and no other orders from any authorities can prevail against it,” he said in mixed Filipino and English.
If Teves’ petition for habeas corpus is granted, Topacio said, Teves will be brought by Timorese authorities to the court where they will be questioned about the basis of the arrest and detention, and if he will be deported to Manila, the reason for his deportation.
The Department of Justice said it is ready to arrange a transfer of custody for Teves but added that government has not yet been furnished with any legal or official document on his apprehension.
Teves has been staying in Dili, Timor-Leste while his application for asylum is pending.
He was first arrested in Dili in March last year. He left Manila in 2023 and refused to return, citing threats to his life. He was tagged as mastermind in the March 2023 killing of Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo and nine others. He has also been tagged a terrorist by the Anti-Terrorism Council while a Manila court has cancelled his passport.
Teves was expelled by the House of Representatives in August 2023.
He has denied all the criminal allegations.
Topacio said the law is on their side, citing a March 2025 decision of Timor-Leste’s Court of Appeals rejecting Manila’s request to extradite Teves.
The decision is a complete turnaround from the appellate court’s December 2024 ruling granting Manila’s request.
Topacio said there were three bases for the denial – there is great danger to his life… he may be forced to undergo torture and other inhuman punishment … he may undergo proceedings that might result in an “injustice” for Teves.
Topacio also said an individual seeking asylum like Teves should not be removed from the place where the asylum is being requested.
“From the point of view of international law, his arrest is highly irregular if the purpose of that arrest is to deport him to Manila,” Topacio added.
Asked if they are prepared if Teves is deported to Manila, Topacio said they will defend him to the best of their ability in courtroom proceedings.
He also expressed confidence the former lawmaker will be exonerated, as he said many government witnesses have recanted their testimonies against him in Degamo’s killing.
Topacio also said the government’s case against his client is weak from the very start.
KIDNAP CLAIM
Teves’ son, Axl, likened his father’s predicament to what happened to former president Rodrigo Duterte who was arrested, turned over to the International Criminal Court and flown to the Netherlands last March.
“We believe that they are doing the same thing as they did to Tatay Digong, the former president of the Philippines, where they will just detain the person illegally, and fly him out wherever they want, and then just settle everything after,” he said in a social media post, reiterating his claim that his father was “kidnapped” from his residence.
“But we do not approve of this, and we do not want my father to be flown out of Timor-Leste because he has already won in the court that he can stay in Timor-Leste, and he cannot be extradited,” he added.
Axl expressed belief his father will be flown out of Timor-Leste today, citing information their camp has received that a private aircraft landed in Timor-Leste at around 7 p.m. or an hour prior to his father’s arrest.
Timor-Leste is one hour ahead of Manila.
“Then at 8 p.m., immigration officers arrived at his residence and picked him up. They just picked him up without documents, without warrants or any form of legal documents,” he added.
He said immigration officers “forcefully” took his father out of his residence in Dili.
FAKE NEWS
Justice Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Jose Dominic Clavano branded the claim of the younger Teves about a private aircraft landing in Timor-Leste to bring his father to Manila as “fake news.”
“While we welcome the recent pronouncements from Timor-Leste indicating a renewed position that Mr. Teves should not remain in their territory, we await their action, whether he would simply be deported for being an undocumented foreigner or extradited forthwith pursuant to our pending application. We emphasize that the Philippine government has not been furnished with any legal or official document on the matter,” he said.
“Nonetheless, we are ready to arrange the transfer of custody by the most expeditious means once we are clarified on this issue,” he added.
He said the Philippine government is working closely with Timor-Leste authorities and is on “standby to act the moment a formal process is initiated” to bring Teves to Manila.
Pressed as to the reason of Teves’ re-arrest, Clavano said they are still awaiting official communication from Timor Leste.
“We await their action. Until we receive official communication from Timor-Leste government, we cannot confirm anything. All we can do is wait for them to inform us on the basis of arrest and what mode of transfer they will use,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Degamo’s widow welcomed the latest development, saying it is long overdue in their quest for justice.
“Last night, Arnie Teves was reportedly arrested by immigration authorities in Timor-Leste. At this stage it is believed that the arrest was due to his status as an illegal alien, having no valid Philippine passport and being the subject of an international alert from Interpol, as well as a standing warrant in connection with the brutal murder of my husband…,” said Pamplona town mayor and incoming Rep. Janice Degamo in a statement posted on her social media account.
She said the decision by Timor Leste’s authorities to rearrest Teves is a “significant step toward justice” not only for their family, but for Negros and the entire country.
“For over two years, our call has been clear and unwavering, that those responsible for this heinous crime must be held accountable, no matter how far they run or how long they hide. Let this serve as a reminder that no one is above the law,” she said.
