The government of Timor-Leste made a sudden turnaround and deported to the Philippines fugitive former congressman Arnolfo Teves, Jr. last week and imposed a 10-year entry ban against him.
Timor-Leste has also declared the once powerful congressman from Negros Oriental a “threat to national security and interests.”
Teves is facing multiple criminal charges in the Philippines, including the high-profile assassination of former Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo in 2023. He has constantly denied the charges and claimed he is being subjected to political persecution.
Timorese authorities turned over Teves to the Philippine government through National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director Jaime Santiago. The NBI chief personally escorted the former congressman from the small island Southeast Asian nation to Manila via a Philippine Air Force plane.
The former congressman is now detained at the NBI custodial facility at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City as the NBI’s own detention cell undergoes renovation.
“Wala po kaming detention facilities. Nakipag-coordinate kami with BuCor, binigay sa amin ang Building 14. That building is distinct and separate from the BuCor kung saan ang mga convicted ay nakakulong,” explained the NBI director.
(We have no detention facilities. We coordinated with BuCor and they gave us Building 14. That building is distinct and separate from where convicted criminals are incarcerated.)
The son of the former congressman, Axi Teves, slammed the arrest and deportation of his father. He posted a video showing how Timorese authorities took the elder Teves to custody.
“I am making this video to inform everyone that my father, Arnie Teves, has been kidnapped and abused,” the young Teves said.
The move by Timorese government came just two months since the Timor-Leste Court of Appeals rejected the Philippine government’s extradition request, citing concerns that Teves might face torture or inhumane treatment if returned.
This decision strained diplomatic relations between the two countries, with Philippine officials warning that it could affect Timor-Leste’s bid for full membership to the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations).
In deporting Teves last week, Timorese immigration authorities said Teves was found to be staying in the country without proper legal authorization after his passport was canceled.
For NBI director Santiago, it was the “exceptional statesmanship” on the part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that prompted the Timor-Leste government to deport Teves.
“Sa magandang pakikipag-ugnayan ng ating Pangulo, President Bongbong Marcos, sa Presidente ng Timor-Leste, si Presidente Jose Ramos-Horta, nag-decide po ang government ng Timor-Leste to finally turn over to us Congressman Teves so that he can answer the charges against him,” he said.
(Following the cordial communication between President Marcos and President Jose Ramos-Horta, the Timor-Leste government decided to finally turn over to us Congressman Teves so that he can answer the charges against him.)
Negros Oriental Rep. Janice Degamo, widow of the alleged murder victim of Teves, said the former lawmaker may have already realized that “his reign of terror has ended.”
Degamo also slammed the crying image of her family’s political rival after his deportation.
“Did you also cry when you saw the CCTV footage of your gunmen murdering our family members? Did you also cry when you saw your fellow Negrenses beg for justice? Did you also cry when your terrorist group terrorized our province?” she posted in Facebook.
“Or do you only cry now that you have realized your reign of terror is over and justice has finally caught up to you?”
