Former Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr.*
Fugitive former Negros Oriental 3rd District congressman Arnolfo Teves Jr. is still in Timor-Leste where he is pursuing an appeal against his extradition, Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Remulla said on Monday, March 3.
Remulla said the relatively new judicial system of the Southeast Asian state is proving to be somewhat of a hurdle to Teves’ transfer.
“Well, the appeal process in Timor-Leste seems to be endless, but I was assured that we will get the news very soon about this matter,” Remulla told reporters in a chance interview.
“He’s (Teves) just there. He’s in Timor-Leste, he’s there”, Remulla said
Once extradited, Teves will face multiple counts of murder, frustrated murder, attempted murder and terrorism charges, including as alleged mastermind of the ambush of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and nine others in March 2023.
He was out of the country on official leave at the time and never came back, leading to his eventual ouster from the House of Representatives.
“They have a very young judicial system. It is not yet mature. We don’t really know the limits. And they have no Supreme Court. That’s why they’re still figuring out a way to make the justice system as sophisticated as ours,” Remulla said.
“In fact, I had word with Mr. (José Manuel) Ramos-Horta, the president, and he wanted to learn from us on how the justice system should be run because it’s something that is so important now to Timor-Leste,” he said.
On Dec. 2, 2024, the Timorese court granted the Philippine government’s extradition request for the second time, noting that the Philippine legal system is functional and safeguards the rights of the accused.
“Well, we just persist,” Remulla said.*PNA