Solon seeking ‘special asylum’
BY ASHZEL HACHERO
SUSPENDED Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr is in Timor-Leste “trying to seek special asylum status,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said yesterday.
Remulla, in an interview with reporters, also said the Department of Justice has informed Timor-Leste that Teves “is a person of interest in murder cases and he is being considered for designation as a terrorist by the country.”
Last month, Remulla said Teves was moving back and forth between South Korea and Cambodia.
Remulla made the statements yesterday as he was asked for an update on cases to be filed against Teves who allegedly masterminded the March 4 attack in Negros Oriental, which led to the death of governor Roel Degamo and nine others.
“Mr. Teves entered Timor-Leste a week ago trying to seek special asylum status and we have written a letter telling Timor-Leste that he is a person of interest in murder cases and he is being considered for designation as a terrorist by the country,” he told reporters.
A one-page letter from Remulla to Foreign Affairs chief Enrique Manalo dated May 8 said the latest information about Teves was provided by the Philippine ambassador to Timor-Leste.
He said Teves was seen in Timor Leste’s capital city of Dili “where he applied for a protection visa with the intent of asylum.”
In his letter, Remulla told Manalo that the DOJ has taken steps to designate Teves as a terrorist under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 and has asked the Anti-Terrorism Council to create a technical working group to work on the designation.
“In line with the above-mentioned, it is respectfully requested that these latest updates be relayed to our good Ambassador to Timor-Leste,” Remulla said.
Remulla expressed confidence Timor-Leste’s authorities will deny Teves’ request, adding the latter is being sought for not for political crimes that could be used as basis to grant an asylum application.
”There is a special provision in law if that if you want to seek asylum it is usually just for political purposes but we don’t see any reason for him to seek asylum in Timor-Leste,” Remulla said.
He added the DOJ has coordinated with its counterparts in other countries to ensure that Manila is fully informed if Teves enters their jurisdiction.
‘AFRAID’
Remulla said Teves’ move to seek asylum in Timor-Leste only shows he is afraid to return to the country and face investigation on Degamo’s killing.
“It’s really for not wanting to face the consequences of certain actions by which he is being held to account for in our courts of law,” he said.
Teves, who has been out of the country since March, has been saying he could not return because of threats to his life, and he has denied any link or involvement in the killing.
Remulla earlier said Teves appears to be the mastermind in the attack.
Aside from being implicated in the Degamo killing, Teves is also facing multiple murder charges before the DOJ over the 2019 killing of three persons in Negros Oriental as well as complaints of illegal possession of firearms.
Teves’ lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, sought for comment, says he has “no comment” on his client’s reported move to seek asylum.
Earlier, Topacio said they are taking the threats against Teves seriously because the information was provided by people who previously told them that his residence will be raided and evidence will be planted. He said these threats took place long before Degamo was killed in his residence in Pamplona town, adding that Teves sounded the alarm as early as December 2022 and January this year.
DELAYED FILING
Remulla said the delay in the filing of multiple murder cases against Teves in connection with Degamo’s killing does not mean the DOJ’s case is weak or lacks evidence against the embattled legislator.
He has said the National Bureau of Investigation had been expected to file the cases before the DOJ last week.
“We were about to file the cases but a few more details are being ironed out but anytime, it will be filed. At the latest siguro on Monday but we are trying to do it by Friday. I am asking them (prosecutors) na kung pwede bilisan na kasi (to speed things up because) it’s been more than two months since the murders so might as well file the cases if they can already,” he said.
He also said they have enough evidence to indict Teves.
‘Marami hong ebidensiya. Wag siyang mag-alala, the evidence is very tight here with us,” he added.
Eleven individuals have been charged with multiple murder, and frustrated and attempted murders, including Marvin Miranda, the supposed “director or casting director” who allegedly organized the actual killing of Degamo.
Remulla also said the prosecutors will “convert” the cases from nine multiple murder to 10 following the death of another victim last Sunday.
The Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs will continue today its hearing on Degamo’s assassination and other political killings in the province.
Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, panel chairman, said several resource persons from both camps will again be given the chance to speak up on what they reportedly know of the killings in the province.
He said resource persons from Teves’ side will also be allowed to speak. — With Raymond Africa
