Janice Degamo on Teves’ arrest: 'An answered prayer'

Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo, the widow of the late Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, on Friday welcomed the arrest of former lawmaker Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. in Timor-Leste, calling it "an answered prayer."

“Matagal tagal kaming nag dasal at nag hintay na talagang this day would come and praise God po, na talagang na-huli na talaga siya. Wala kaming mapaglagyan ng aming tuwa. We're really happy about this development,” she said on Balitanghali.

(We prayed for so long and waited for this day to come. Praise God that he has been arrested. We are really happy about this development.)

Teves is accused of being the mastermind behind the March 4, 2023 attack against her husband, when armed men barged into his home in Barangay San Isidro in Pamplona and shot him in the middle of aid distribution, killing him and several others.

Teves was arrested on Thursday afternoon while playing golf, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

The agency said the International Criminal Police Organization’s (INTERPOL) National Central Bureau in Dili is coordinating with a team from Manila and the Philippine Embassy on Teves’ extradition to the Philippines.

Degamo said that they are also not going to say anything to Teves when he returns.

“I think it would be enough for us to be able to see him in jail and once and for all prove that the jail is for everyone. It is not only for the poor, the deprived, the people who are not connected,” she said.

Degamo said she has also talked with the other families.

“Yesterday, nag tawagan kami, nag ano pa nga, nag agree kami na magpa misa kami and talagang— wala. Mahirap po siya i-explain. Talagang everyone is happy,” she said.

(We called each other yesterday and we agreed to hold a mass. It’s hard to explain. Everyone is just really happy.)

GMA News Online has sought comment from Teves’ camp on his arrest but has yet to receive a response as of posting time. 

Red Notice

Teves was placed on the red notice of the INTERPOL in February.

A red notice is a request for law enforcement worldwide to locate and arrest a person pending his extradition, surrender, or similar legal action.

In a separate interview on Super Radyo dzBB, Justice spokesperson Mico Clavano said this was the basis of his arrest in Timor-Leste.

“‘Yun po yung naging basis din kung bakit gumalaw at naaresto si former Congressman Teves,” Clavano said.

(That was the basis and reason why Teves was arrested.)

Teves was last spotted in Timor-Leste in September 2023 after a chance encounter with a former senator. He also sought asylum in the country but was denied.

Clavano said that Teves’ motion for reconsideration on the dismissal was also denied.

The former lawmaker is facing murder, frustrated murder, and attempted murder charges for the killing of Degamo and several others at the then-governor's home.

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

Teves was designated as a terrorist along with 11 others by the Anti-Terrorism Council in August 2023 due to alleged killings and harassment in Negros Oriental.

Teves has repeatedly denied the allegations against him.

He was expelled by the House of Representatives in August for disorderly conduct and continued absence despite an expired travel authority.  —VAL, GMA Integrated News