Fugitive and dismissed Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves will appeal a ruling by the Timor-Leste Court of Appeals favoring his extradition to face murder and terrorism charges in the Philippines, his lawyer said on Tuesday, Dec. 10.
Teves is wanted for murder and terrorism in connection with the killing of his political rival Roel Degamo.
“The ball is in the court of our lawyers in Timor-Leste. But of course, I am almost certain that we’ll file an appeal. And the appellate process will be underway pretty soon. So that is the extent of what I can say. And I wish to add that Congressman Teves is in good spirits,” lawyer Ferdinand Topacio said at a media briefing.
“And he’s confident that on the merits, his case will eventually attain victory. That is all I can say on the matter.”
On Dec. 2, the Timorese court granted the Philippine government’s extradition request.
“It is clear from the extradition request that the State of the Philippines is seeking extradition for criminal proceedings on the grounds that the extraditee (Teves) is the mastermind of several murders, some of which were committed and others thwarted and attempted, and not on the grounds that the extraditee supported this or that presidential candidate and is or is not a political enemy,” the decision read.
“The extradition request is not made for political purposes but only to bring justice to the numerous victims of the multiple crimes of murder, frustrated murder, and attempted murder mentioned above.”*PNA