Timor-Leste grants Philippines' request for Arnie Teves extradition

Timor-Leste has granted the Philippines' request for the extradition of former Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves, the Department of Justice has said.

The development was relayed to the DOJ by the attorney general of Timor-Leste.

"We have won," the DOJ said in a statement.

"We look forward to the arrival of Mr. Teves so that he may finally face the charges against him in our local courts," it added.

In a statement, Teves' lawyer Atty. Ferdinand Topacio said the former congressman could still appeal, "a recourse that have every intention of taking."

"Then we still have the option of political asylum," Topacio said.

Topacio said Teves would still have to be proven guilty even if he was extradited.

"You still have to defend your planted evidence, in light of the recent rulings of the courts revealing their bogus nature and the admission to bail of Mr. Teves' co-accused on the ground of weak evidence," Topacio said.  

"So, I wouldn't gloat if I were you," he added..

Teves and several others are facing murder charges in connection with the killing in 2023 of then Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo.

The expelled lawmaker has been under the custody of Timor Leste police since March following his arrest based on the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) red notice issued against him 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.

The notice stemmed from the multiple murder charges filed against Teves  for the killing of Degamo, which he repeatedly denied.

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 Teves' passport.

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