DOJ slams Arnie Teves’ letter to human rights orgs, Pope Francis

Imaginary and a delaying tactic.

This was how the Department of Justice (DOJ) described Wednesday the statements written by former Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. in the letters he sent to human rights organizations and Pope Francis asking for intervention.

In a statement, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla urged Teves and his legal counsel, Atty, Ferdinand Topacio, to avoid baseless pronouncements which malign the integrity of the country's justice system. 

“Instead of dilly dallying things, Teves should just face the court of law and answer the charges fair and square,” he added.

“Teves is a designated terrorist and fugitive from justice, he is also facing grave charges such as multiple murder and all of that is a reality Topacio and his client should face. Until then, we cannot recognize anything they say unless they present themselves in court,” Remulla further said. 

When sought for comment, Topacio said that not every action of the opposite camp should be commented on.

In the letter posted by Timor-Leste site Hatutan, Teves supposedly asked human rights groups and Pope Francis for their attention and help, saying he was being “politically persecuted, charged with false accusations, and presumed guilty before trial.”

The letter was addressed to the United Nations, Amnesty International, human rights groups, and Pope Francis.

Topacio previously confirmed that Teves wrote a letter to the said organizations and individuals.

“Actually he’s here. He’s confirming it. Pero hindi namin pwede pakita sa inyo. It’s against regulations here,” the lawyer said.

(He's here. He's confirming it. But we can't show it to you. It's against the regulations here.)

The former lawmaker, who is accused of masterminding the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and others in March 2023, is facing multiple murder charges.

He was out of the country at the time of the attack and never returned following the governor’s death. Teves repeatedly denied any involvement in the killing.  

Teves also stated that he was a critic of the Marcos administration and that the government wants him extradited out of Timor-Leste to be killed at the country’s airports.

For his part, Remulla stressed that the Philippine government has already promised the protection of Teves. 

"Prove us wrong that you are not merely employing tactics intended to delay or circumvent the Rule of Law by presenting 'real' and 'existing' proof that Teves' life is in danger, otherwise, submit yourselves to Philippine jurisdiction, time is of the essence knowing that there are victims crying for justice," he said.

In March, Teves was arrested in Dili based on the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) red notice issued against him in February.

His camp said he was released from preventive detention in Becora Prison in Dili on Monday, but the DOJ said he was later rearrested by the Polícia Nacional of Timor Leste.

Topacio said Teves was not rearrested but placed under the court’s custody for his extradition hearing.

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 and 12 others have also been designated as terrorists by the Anti-Terrorism Council, citing several alleged killings and harassment in Negros Oriental.

In early February, a Manila court ordered the cancellation of his passport.

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