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 Teves Jr., according to Malacañang.

The Palace said on Friday, March 21, 2025, it was surprised over the court ruling, adding that the DOJ has complied with the requirement for Arnie Teves' extradition, according to a report of GMA News Online. 

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. 

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

On March 20, 2024, 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."

GMA News Online cited that 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," Castro said. 

"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.

Impact to cases

According to Castro, the rejection of the extradition request will affect significantly 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.

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.

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.

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, on the last week of March 2025. 

"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.