Arnie Teves to be extradited after Pope’s Timor-Leste visit -DOJ

Former Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. was expected to be extradited to the Philippines after Pope Francis’ visit to Timor-Leste, an official of the Department of Justice (DOJ) said Saturday.

At a news forum in Quezon City, DOJ spokesperson Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano, citing news reports, said that Timor-Leste President Jose  Ramos-Horta wanted to send Teves back to the Philippines.

“He [Ramos-Horta] mentioned that it will not be too long before he [Teves] will go home,” Clavano said.

The DOJ official said the department was coordinating with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and other agencies for Teves’  extradition.

“We hope to execute everything, our operation right after the Papal visit,” Clavano said.

Pope Francis is scheduled to visit Timor-Leste from September 9 to 11.

GMA News Online had sought comment from Teves’ legal counsel, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, but the he had yet to respond as of posting time.

Timor-Leste had denied Teves’ motion for reconsideration which he filed to reverse the extradition granted against the embattled politician, the DOJ disclosed.

Topacio, however, said that this was “fake news,” noting that the stay order was denied, not the appeal.

Last June, Timor-Leste’s Court of Appeals granted the Philippines' request for Teves' extradition.

“I don’t think the president of Timor Leste wants him [Teves] to stay any longer,” Clavano said.

Teves and several others are facing murder charges in connection with the killing in 2023 of Negros Oriental Governor 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 assassination of Degamo, which he has 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 was expelled by the House of Representatives in August last year for disorderly conduct and continued absence despite an expired travel authority. — DVM, GMA Integrated News