Pacquiao, Arnie Teves had chance encounter in Timor-Leste –DOJ

Former Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. and former Senator Manny Pacquiao had a chance encounter in Timor-Leste, the Department of Justice said on Friday.

“Alam naman natin na andoon talaga sa Timor-Leste. Ngayon, without a doubt,” DOJ spokesperson Atty. Mico Clavano said in an ambush interview.

(We knew Teves was really in Timor-Leste. Now, without a doubt.)

“At nakakuha rin kami ng statement galing sa kampo ni former Senator Manny Pacquiao na ito ay isang chance encounter lamang po at hindi naman sinadya na mag kita sila doon sa mismong airport,” he added.

(We also received a statement from former Senator Manny Pacquiao that this was a chance encounter and they did not intend to meet Teves.)

According to Pacquiao, he had been invited to Timor-Leste by President Jose Ramos Horta and Prime Minister Kay Rala Xana Gusmao to be the guest of honor in Timor-Leste’s Independence Day celebration.

Viral videos on social media show Teves, in a white shirt and sunglasses, pushing through the crowd and hugging Pacquiao.

The former senator said he met Teves again in a dinner organized by the Timor-Leste government and boxing groups, but they did not have the chance to talk, Saleema Refran reported on “24 Oras”.

Pacquiao said he wasn’t aware the expelled legislator would be in the event, adding he did not visit Timor-Leste for Teves.

GMA News Online had sought comment from former Congressman Teves' representatives, but they had yet to respond as of posting time.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Embassy in Timor-Leste declined to comment, saying it did not have a hand in Pacquiao’s visit.

Teves was the subject of an arrest warrant in the Philippines for allegedly masterminding the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and others on March 4.

The former Negros Oriental representative had also been designated a terrorist by the Anti-Terrorism Council for killings and harassment in Negros Oriental.

Meanwhile, Clavano said the DOJ believed that Teves was not invited by the Timor-Leste government as there had been numerous “high-level talks” between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Horta.

“Sa tingin namin, these are not in any way sanctioned by their government, ‘yung pag punta ni former Congressman Arnie Teves. Hindi rin naman sinadya na imbitahin si former Congressman Teves. Si Manny Pacquiao lang po ang inimbita,” he said.

(We believe that these are not in any way sanctioned by their government, the visit of former Congressman Arnie Teves. They also did not invite former Congressman Teves. Manny Pacquiao was the only one invited.)

The Justice Department spokesperson said they would continue and intensify their operations against Teves.

“We’ll have to go through diplomatic channels dahil wala naman tayong extradition treaty with Timor-Leste. But the cooperation and the communication between the two governments has been very fruitful. Marami na pong napag usapan and our operations are based on those communications,” Clavano said.

(We’ll have to go through diplomatic channels because we have no extradition treaty with Timor-Leste. But the cooperation and the communication between the two governments has been very fruitful. There have been numerous discussions, and our operations are based on those communications.)

“So, of course, dahil nagpakita na talaga siya [because he has shown himself], we will further intensify our operation and speed up the process,” he added.

Clavano said the Justice Department expected Teves to be back in the Philippines in a few months to face the charges against him.

Meanwhile, Clavano said they recommended that Malacañang write to the United Nations and inform them that a warrant of arrest had been issued against Teves.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla previously said they would ask member states of the UN to acknowledge their duty of rendition to bring back Teves to the Philippines for trial.

Aside from the murder of Degamo and others, the former lawmaker and others have also been charged with the deaths of three individuals in Negros Oriental in 2019.

The House of Representatives in mid-August voted to expel Teves for disorderly conduct and his continued absence despite an expired travel authority.

Teves, for his part, has repeatedly denied the allegations against him. — DVM, GMA Integrated News