Arnie Teves being brought home to face Degamo murder case 

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After nearly two years, Teves will face his local cases that stem from the Degamo assassination and the 2019 killings in Negros Oriental

MANILA, Philippines – Fugitive former lawmaker Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. is being brought back to the Philippines to face his local criminal cases after years of evading arrest.

Teves boarded a Philippine plane at around 1:10 pm (Philippine time) on Thursday, May 29. The former lawmaker was in handcuffs and feet were in shackles when he was escorted by Philippine and Timorese authorities to the aircraft that is flying him back to the Philippines. The plane took off at about 2:42 pm.

The Philippine delegation that picked up the fugitive includes National Bureau of Investigation director Jaime Santiago and Department of Justice Assistant Secretary Eliseo Cruz.

On Wednesday night, the Timorese government announced that Teves, who faces local criminal cases, will be deported to the Philippines. The Southeast Asian country said this was the decision of its Ministry of the Interior, citing Teves’ lack of a visa, legal authorization, and a valid passport to remain in Timor-Leste.

“The imminent full accession of Timor-Leste to ASEAN, scheduled for October this year, further reinforces the responsibility of the Timorese State to actively collaborate with its regional partners in upholding justice, legality, and stability in the region,” the Timorese government said.

Teves was arrested in Dili on Tuesday, May 27, by immigration police, according to his lawyer. At the time, it was not clear what the basis of the arrest was, but the Timorese government clarified in a statement that the operation against Teves was based on immigration violations.

Complications

Teves has been in the Southeast Asian country for over two years now, after he was implicated in the 2023 killing of former Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo. The former lawmaker faces murder, frustrated murder, and attempted murder charges over the Degamo assassination that also led to the deaths of nine other people.

He is also facing additional three counts of murder over killings in his home province in 2019.

Teves was arrested by the Interpol and the Timorese police after the fugitive was added to the Interpol’s red notice alert in March 2024.

After securing two victories in favor of extraditing Teves, the Philippine government suffered a loss in March this year after a Timorese court reversed its earlier rulings and denied the request to send him back to the Philippines.

DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla told reporters on Thursday that the Philippine government relied on Timor-Leste’s executive branch after suffering a defeat in the judicial branch.

“We don’t know how it works there because the judicial system has plenary powers to change the rules every time. A very immature judicial system. That’s why we are relying more on the executive to decide. That an undocumented foreigner charged with terrorism and murder, will have to face the music someday,” Remulla told reporters. – Rappler.com