THE Department of Justice yesterday said Timor-Leste has rejected anew the bid for political asylum of former Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves who was tagged the mastermind in the 2023 killing of governor Roel Degamo and nine others.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, in a statement, expressed gratitude to Timor-Leste “for ruling again in favor of the extradition request of the Philippines to bring back home… Teves, Jr. to face the murder charges lodged against him before a Manila court for the killing of former governor Raul Degamo and several others.”
The DOJ said the rejection of Teves’ request is to be expected as his bid lacks merit and he was not able to present evidence to back his plea.
“We expected no less other than a second grant of extradition by Timor-Leste which only affirms the stance of the PH government and that they made the right decision the first time around,” the DOJ said in a statement.
The second round of extradition hearings, according to the DOJ, was a result of the procedural objections made by the camp of Teves, despite bringing it up as a “late appeal” after voluntarily participating in a proceeding he only refuted after receiving an “unfavorable decision.”
“This is a resounding victory for the Filipino people, a testament of our present government’s unyielding commitment to attain real time justice at all costs,” Remulla added.
Timor-Leste first rejected Teves’ bid for asylum in August this year. His camp then filed a petition seeking to reverse the unfavorable ruling.
Aside from the killing of Degamo, Teves is also facing multiple murder charges in connection with the 2019 killings of three individuals, including a former board member, in Negros Oriental.
He has been tagged by the Anti-Terrorism Council as a terrorist, leading a Manila court to cancel his passport.
Teves has denied all the allegations but he refused to return to the country, saying he feared for his safety and that of his family.
