THE Department of Justice yesterday said the extradition of dismissed Negros Oriental congressman Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. from Timor-Leste is still pending amid what it described as a last-ditch effort of his camp to prevent his return to the country.
The department said Teves’ camp contested the ruling of Timor-Leste’s Court of Appeals granting Manila’s extradition request, on procedural grounds by questioning the number of judges involved in the decision.
This is expected to delay the extradition of the dismissed lawmaker who is accused of masterminding a March 2023 attack that killed Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo and nine others.
The appellate court rejected Teves’ bid contesting the extradition request last June. The court dismissed his motion for reconsideration of the ruling last month.
“This is a clear afterthought, raised only after the proceedings had concluded unfavorably for him. In Philippine law, such a move would be barred under the principle of estoppel, which prevents a party from challenging procedural issues if they actively participated in the process they failed to raise objections earlier,’ the DOJ said in a statement.
“The legal merits are clear, and we respect that Mr. Teves will face justice in the Philippines soon, given the strong evidence against him in connection with multiple serious charges, including the murder of Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo,” it added.
Aside from the Degamo murder case, Teves is also facing murder charges in connection with several killings in the province in 2019.
The Anti-Terrorism Council has also tagged him as a terrorist under the Terrorism Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012, as well as related provisions under the Anti-Terrorism Law of 2020, while a Manila court cancelled his passport early this year.
Teves denied the accusations but refused to return to the country, saying he feared for his safety.
The DOJ issued the statement after Teves’ lawyer Ferdinand Topacio claimed that a Timor-Leste court had nullified the extradition order, citing a violation of the principle of “full assistance of judges.”
Topacio said this is a “procedural flaw” which could be enough to overturn the whole ruling.
But Justice Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Jose Dominic Clavano expressed confidence that the proceedings will similarly result in the grant of the Philippine government’s request.
“Same exact evidence is to be presented but this time before three judges,” Clavano said.
He said Teves’ camp is trying to use every trick in the book after their earlier defeat in Timor-Leste’s courts.
“Mr. Teves and his representatives were fully engaged in the proceedings, had the opportunity to present their case, and were afforded due process throughout. Their recent objections only arose after they failed to secure a favorable outcome,” the DOJ said
“They were fully engaged in the proceedings, had every chance to raise this before, and are now only complaining because things didn’t go their way,” it added.
Justice Secretary Remulla said the government will remain committed to bringing Teves home.
“No amount of underhanded tactics will derail our determination to get this fugitive home to face the murder charges. The victims need justice,” he said.
Teves was apprehended in Timor-Leste in March this year based on a red notice issued by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) in February in connection with the Degamo murder case.
A red notice is a request by Interpol for law enforcement worldwide to locate and arrest a person pending his extradition, surrender, or similar legal action.
