The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday, May 30, announced that the Philippine government’s request for the extradition of ousted Negros Oriental lawmaker Arnolfo Teves Jr. has passed the first screening by Timor-Leste’s Ministry of Justice.
DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano said the extradition request has already been endorsed to Timor-Leste’s Court of Appeals.
“Preparations are on the way for the return of former Congressman Teves to the Philippines. We are awaiting the decision of the Court of Appeals in Timor-Leste because the Ministry of Justice forwarded our request to the Court of Appeals,” Clavano said during the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing.
He said the DOJ expects to receive a decision from the Timor-Leste Court of Appeals regarding Teves’ extradition within the next few weeks.
“We just have to wait and be patient with the decision of the Court of Appeals because that is not our territory. So, we will just have to abide and comply with the direction and the decision of the Court of Appeals,” he added.
Teves is fighting his deportation to the Philippines and has remained in Timor-Leste where he was arrested in March based on a red notice issued by the International Criminal Police Organization.
The former lawmaker is facing 10 counts of murder, 12 counts of frustrated murder, and four counts of attempted murder before the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 51 in relation to the March 4, 2023 shootings in Pamplona town, Negros Oriental, which caused the death of Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo.
The trial court had issued an arrest order against him.*PNA