Timor-Leste officials want Arnie Teves case over —Remulla

Timor-Leste officials wanted the case of former Negros Oriental congressman Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. to be done with already, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Thursday.

“Gusto nila talagang matapos na nang maayos [They really want it to be finished properly],” Remulla said in a press briefing.

Remulla issued the remark a day after a courtesy visit to Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta, who he said invited him to the country a long time ago. He said that the Timor-Leste Justice Secretary and Chief of Intelligence were also present at the meeting.

He discussed with them the total ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO), including issues related to crime, regulatory evasion, and potential threats to public safety as well as Teves’ situation.

According to Remulla, they also discussed rumors of corruption in Timor-Leste

“So we were talking about it na kapag pinayagan nila mangyari ‘yan, baka mamaya ‘yung kanilang legacy—these guys are 75, 78 years old, ‘yung mga lumaban ng revolution ng Timor-Leste—baka naman mawala ‘yung legacy nila,” he said.

(So we were talking about it that if they allowed it to happen, their legacy might be—these guys are 75, 78 years old, the ones who fought in the Timor-Leste revolution—their legacy might disappear.)

When asked when he believes Teves will return to the country, the Justice Secretary said that the Timor-Leste gave them no timeline.

“Walang binigay na timeline sa amin [no timeline was given to us],” he said.

Teves 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.

Last June, the Timor-Leste Court of Appeals granted the Philippines' request for the extradition of Teves, accused of masterminding the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and others.

However, the court in September ordered for evidence to be presented again.

Meanwhile, Remulla said they held the visit on Tuesday and left immediately after.

“Teves is on the loose, under bail, naka piyansa. Although binabantayan siya, syempre we cannot discount that what happened in Negros will happen in Timor-Leste. Kaya umalis na kami doon,” he said. 

(Teves is out on bail. Although he's being closely monitored, of course we can't rule out the possibility that what happened in Negros could happen in Timor-Leste as well. That's why we left the place.)

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

Teves was released from house arrest in June.

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.

The former lawmaker has repeatedly denied the allegations against him. — BM, GMA Integrated News