THE camp of expelled Negros Oriental congressman Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves, who is facing multiple murder charges in connection with the 2023 attack that killed governor Roel Degamo and nine others, yesterday said they have asked the United Nations to look into his case.
This is to ensure that Teves’ rights are respected, said legal counsel Ferdinand Topacio.
“Mr. Teves has resorted to the remedy of bringing the matter of his harassment and political persecution before the UN Commission on Human Rights,” Topacio said, adding the plea was filed with the UN last week.
He added that the UN should look into whether the former lawmaker’s rights were violated by the Philippine government.
In June this year, Teves issued an open letter to the UN, the Amnesty International, and other human rights groups, and even Pope Francis for intercession in preventing his repatriation from Timor-Leste where he is seeking political asylum.
This happened after Topacio and Justice Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Jose Dominic Clavano traded accusations of misleading the public after Teves was briefly released and rearrested by Timor-Leste police.
Earlier, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Teves is doing everything to delay his return to Manila and face the criminal charges.
Teves was tagged as the mastermind in the March 2023 attack in Degamo’s house I Negros Oriental.
He is also facing murder charges for the killing of three persons in the province in 2019, including a former provincial board member.
The Anti-Terrorism Council has tagged Teves him as a terrorist while a Manila court cancelled his passport early this year.
Teves has denied the accusations but refused to return to the country.
In June, Clavano announced that Timor-Leste granted the extradition of Teves but the latter’s camp filed a motion for reconsideration on the ruling on July 26 before the Court of Appeals of Timor-Leste.
Topacio said the Timor-Leste appellate court has yet to decide on their appeal.
