TIMOR-LESTE Leste has decided not to extradite former Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves to Manila to face multiple murder charges filed against him in connection with the March 2023 attack that killed Governor Roel Degamo and nine others.
Teves, who has been tagged as a terrorist by the Anti-Terrorism Council, is also facing murder charges in connection with the 2019 killing of three persons, including a former board member in Negros Oriental.
The Department of Justice, in a statement, said it is “both surprised and deeply disappointed” by the ruling.
“It is peculiar that after having twice decided in favor of extradition — first in June 2024 and again in December 2024 — the Timor-Leste Court of Appeal has now reversed its stance, taking a complete 180-degree turn to reject the Philippines’ extradition request. This sudden shift raises serious concerns, and we are currently seeking further clarification regarding the basis of this decision,” it also said.
The DOJ said allowing Teves to evade justice would be the height of injustice, not only to the victims and their families but to the integrity of the rule of law.
“We reiterate our firm request for cooperation in this matter. Mr. Teves is facing serious charges, including multiple counts of murder, and must be brought home to face the full force of the law,” it said.
The DOJ said it will not stop exploring legal measures to bring Teves back to Manila for him to face the charges.
The ruling dated March 20 cited Teves’ fears of being persecuted and tortured if he is returned to Manila, as it noted that his secretary was detained without a valid arrest warrant and interrogated under physical and psychological threats by Philippine authorities.
The court also cited the June 2023 affidavit of recantation by witnesses-defendants-Gemuel Hobro, Alma Libron, Rogelio Antipolo, Joven Javuier, Daniel Pajarillo and Romuel Pattaguan that they signed statements implicating Teves in Degamo’s killing pre-prepared by the police, and without the presence of a lawyer.
“Therefore, also in accordance with the provisions of the second part of Article 35 (3) of the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of East Timor (a well-founded risk of being subject to torture, inhumane, degrading or cruel treatment) the request for extradition must be rejected,” the court said in its ruling.
“For the foregoing reasons, the Plenary of Judges of the Court of Appeals unanimously decides to grant the appeal, and consequently, on the basis of Article 35 (3) of the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of East Timor, to refuse the request for extradition of Arnolfo Alipit Teves Junior, revoking the contested decision,” it added.
The ruling was signed by Judges Maria Natercia Gusmao Pereira, Antonio Helder Viana do Carmo, and Edite Palmira dos Reis.
The DOJ said it will “explore and exhaust all legal remedies available to us to ensure that justice is served and that Mr. Teves is held to face for crimes he is accused of.”
The DOJ has yet to specifically say whether it will appeal the latest court ruling, adding it will provide updates once it received an official copy of the ruling of Timor Leste’s appellate court.
Early this month, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla expressed exasperation over what he described as the seemingly endless appeals process in Teves’ extradition. But he said he understand the challenges they are facing in their quest to bring Teves back to Manila.
“They have a very young judicial system. It is not yet mature. We don’t really know the limits. That’s why they’re still figuring out a way to make the justice system as sophisticated as ours,” he added.
