Arnie Teves camp files appeal vs. extradition order —lawyer

The camp of former Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. has asked the Timor-Leste government to reconsider its decision granting the extradition request of the Philippines.

Ferdinand Topacio, the legal counsel of Teves, said the appeal was filed on Friday, July 26 before the Prosecutor General’s Office of Timor-Leste.

“Prosecutor-General of Timor-Leste has 30 days to respond to the appeal,” he said in a message to reporters. 

In June, the Department of Justice announced that Timor-Leste granted the extradition of Teves.

According to Topacio, their camp also appealed “various other incidents.”

The expelled lawmaker was arrested in Timor-Leste in March 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.

Teves was released from house arrest in June.

READ: TIMELINE: Degamo killing and murder raps vs. Arnie Teves

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.

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