DOJ to appeal Timor-Leste court's junking of Teves extradition — Palace

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is set to appeal the decision of the Timor-Leste Court of Appeal (CA) denying the Philippines' extradition request for former Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr., according to Malacañang.

The Palace said Friday it was surprised over the court ruling, adding that the DOJ has complied with the requirement for Teves' extradition. The congressman is facing multiple murder charges in the Philippines.

"Medyo nagulat po ang administrasyon lalung-lalo na po ang DOJ patungkol po dito dahil ayon po sa kanila ay nagawa naman po nila lahat at naibigay po lahat ang mga ebidensiya at mga records po para po ma-grant ang extradition. Naipakita rin po nila na wala po tayo ngayon na death penalty at ito ay suspended," Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said in a press briefing.

(The administration, especially the DOJ, was surprised over the decision because according to them, they submitted the pieces of evidence and records to extradite Teves. We also showed the death penalty is suspended in the Philippines.)

"Ayon po sa DOJ… mag-aapela po sila, magfa-file po sila ng appeal sa Court of Appeals po ng Timor-Leste," Castro said.

(The DOJ said they will file an appeal with the Court of Appeal of Timor-Leste.)

On Thursday, the DOJ announced that the Timor Leste court junked the Philippines' request to extradite Teves, citing a provision which bans extradition if there is a "well-founded risk of being subjected to torture, inhumane, degrading, or cruel treatment."

The court granted the country's first extradition request for Teves in June 2024.

However, Teves' camp contested the ruling on procedural grounds, specifically on the number of judges involved in the decision. This prompted the Timor-Leste court to order the parties to again present evidence in the case.

In December 2024, the Court granted the extradition request for the second time, prompting Teves' camp to again appeal the ruling.

"Kahit naman po sa Konstitusyon natin ay bawal po iyan. Kaya nga po noong sila po ay naglahad ng kanilang mga ebidensiya, ang ating administrasyon through DOJ, ipinakita po natin ang lahat ng mga ito ay hindi po mangyayari sa ating administrasyon," said Castro.

(That is prohibited even under our Constitution. That's why when our administration, through the DOJ, presented evidence, we assured them that this won't happen under our administration.)

"Nagtataka nga po sila kung bakit po kaya nabaliktad po ang unang desisyon po ng korte po ng Timor-Leste. Kaya po sa pamamagitan po ng appeal na kanilang isasampa, ipapakita po nila na dapat po talagang ma-grant ang extradition," she said.

(That's why it's puzzling why the first decision by the Timor-Leste court was reversed. Through the appeal, they will show that the extradition request should be granted.)

Impact to cases

According to Castro, the rejection of the extradition request will significantly affect the investigation and progress of the murder charges against Teves.

"Malaki po ang magiging impact po nito considering na may mga diumano'y biktima na nag-complain naman laban po kay dating Congressman Teves. Kaya po hangga't makakaya ng administrasyon, ilalaban pa rin natin ito para po sa hustisya sa mga diumano'y biktima," she added.

(This will greatly impact his cases, considering that there are alleged victims who lodged complaints against former Congressman Teves. The administration will exert all efforts so they may attain justice.)

Teves is facing murder charges for the alleged killing of Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo and others in March 2023.

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

The former lawmaker has denied the allegations against him. 

Making money?

For his part, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said there may be individuals in Timor-Leste who are milking the situation as the court's decision has no basis.

"Just the notion that we have a death penalty to implement in this country is really crazy. There's no basis for the decision," he said in an ambush interview.

"So it's obvious that some people are making money out of this. Maybe the lawyers or maybe more than the lawyers," he added.

He said it was difficult to predict "an immature justice system at work."

GMA News Online has requested comment from the Embassy of Timor-Leste in Manila regarding Remulla's statements, but it has yet to respond as of posting time.

'Unseemly'

Meanwhile, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, Teves' legal counsel, said he found no issue should the government appeal the decision.

However, he said it was "unseemly" for Remulla to cast aspersions on the reputation of Timor-Leste's justice system.

"Unang-una, that is very unseemly for a cabinet member of a government that has diplomatic relations with Timor-Leste na porke't hindi nila nakuha 'yung gusto nila ay kung anu-ano ang sinasabi nila," he said in a phone interview with the media.

(First of all, that is very unseemly for a cabinet member of a government that has diplomatic relations with Timor-Leste that just because they didn't get what they wanted, they're saying all sorts of things.)

Topacio dared Remulla to prove his allegations or "shut up."

"I'm challenging Secretary Remulla, sino naglagay? Sino nilagyan? Magkano inilagay? Sige. Pag hindi niya masagot 'yan eh tumahimik na lamang siya," he said.

(I'm challenging Secretary Remulla—who paid? Who was paid? How much was given? Go ahead. If he can't answer that, then he should just stay quiet.)

Topacio denied that there was money involved in the ruling.

Degamo family

Meanwhile, Remulla said he will meet with Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo, the late governor's widow, next week.

"We will have to discuss these things. It's a work in progress. It's really—, It's not easy to run after a fugitive from justice who has lots of money to burn," he said.

Despite this, Remulla said the DOJ will do everything it can in relation to Teves' extradition. — VDV, GMA Integrated News