TIMOR-LESTE’S Court of Appeals has rejected a bid for political asylum of former Negros Oriental congressman Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves who is facing multiple murder charges, including the 2023 killing of governor Roel Degamo, the Department of Justice said yesterday.
“We wish to inform the public that this motion has been denied,” the DOJ said, referring to the motion for reconsideration filed by Teves’ camp in June to reverse the appellate court’s original ruling.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said they received the “official update from the Prosecutor General of Timor-Leste” on the appellate court’s ruling.
“We recognize the importance of this decision and are committed to maintaining transparency throughout this process,” Remulla said in a brief statement, adding that the denial of Teves’ motion is “a significant step forward” in the quest for justice.
“This decision underscores that justice proceeds irrespective of an individual’s status,” Remulla added.
He said the DOJ will provide additional update “soon.”
Earlier, Teves’ camp asked the United Nations to look into whether the former lawmaker’s rights were violated by the Philippine government.
In June this year, Teves published an open letter to the UN, Amnesty International and other human rights groups, and even Pope Francis for intercession in preventing his repatriation.
Remulla has said Teves was doing everything to just 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 in Negros Oriental. Nine others died in the attack.
Teves is also facing murder charges in connection with killings in the province in 2019, including that of a former provincial board member.
The Anti-Terrorism Council has tagged Teves 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, saying he fear for his safety.
