NBI to wait for Timor to finish processes on Teves’ arrest

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THE National Bureau of Investigation yesterday said the agency will allow Timor-Leste to complete its legal proceedings in connection with the arrest last week of former Negros Oriental Rep. Arnulfo “Arnie” Teves before pushing for his repatriation to face the charges in connection with the 2023 attack that killed Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo and nine others.

NBI Director Medardo de Lemos, in a press briefing, said Timor-Leste authorities told him they are still examining documents to determine the merit of the issuance of a “red notice” against Teves by the International Police Organization’s (Interpol), which led to them taking him into custody.

He said Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos Horta told him the same thing when he made a courtesy call and discussed the matter.

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“He explained to us the processes — they will present Cong. Teves to the court to determine what should be done. He told us that is the process in Timor-Leste as part of the steps, in case they will grant the request of the Philippines to bring back Cong. Teves,” he said in Filipino.

But he said Ramos-Horta also expressed his desire to accelerate the court processes in order to return the expelled lawmaker to Manila.

“We promised to them that we will respect and wait for the legal proceedings of Congressman Teves,” the NBI chief added.

De Lemos led a four-man NBI that went to East Timor on March 21 to escort Teves back to the Philippines, but the team went home empty-handed last Saturday.

Justice Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Jose Dominic Clavano said Teves must face the charges against him in Philippine courts.

“We do not recognize or acknowledge any camp that refuses to go through our own justice system,” Clavano said.

“The brutal crimes happened here in the Philippines. The families of the victims are here in the Philippines. So, we want justice to be served here in the Philippines,” Clavano added.

Aside from the killing of Degamo, Teves is also facing murder charges for the 2019 killing of three persons in Negros Oriental, including a former board member.

Clavano added the Department of Justice is also confident that it will not take long to bring back Teves to the country, especially considering his passport has been cancelled by the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Earlier, Teves’ legal counsel Ferdinand Topacio said they might ask Timor-Leste authorities to grant him political asylum despite the fact that his earlier petition was rejected last year.

Topacio also said they might go to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights because of the supposed “persecution” of Teves.

He also said Teves’ stay in Timor-Leste would be extended by 15 days while the court is verifying the request of Manila and the Interpol for his custody.

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