Teves to appeal DOJ’s extradition ‘victory’

The camp of expelled Negros Oriental lawmaker and murder suspect Arnolfo Teves Jr. said on Friday they have plans to appeal the recent extradition case against Teves that the Philippine government won in Timor-Leste.

Teves’ lawyer Ferdinand Topacio told reporters they were notified of the result of the case on Thursday and they still have 30 days to draft and submit their appeal. He, however, admitted they have yet to formulate their arguments for the appeal.

READ: Timor-Leste OKs Teves extradition to PH

He said he is confident that an arrest warrant would not be served yet since the appellate process is still ongoing, which they plan to pursue all the way to Dili’s Supreme Court. Dili is the capital city of Timor-Leste.

Another remedy that Teves’ counsel in Timor-Leste is processing a second political asylum application. Topacio said that under Dili’s laws, if there is a pending application for political asylum, a person cannot be arrested even if there is already an extradition request.

Dominic Clavano, spokesperson for the Department of Justice (DOJ), said on Friday they have “secured the approval” of Timor-Leste to bring Teves back to the Philippines.

“This victory is not just for the DOJ alone but the entire Philippines and for every single Filipino who believes that our criminal justice is truly working,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said.

“Teves’ hide-and-seek tactics have come to an end. He can no longer evade the legal consequences of his actions and should answer the charges fair and square,” he added.

The DOJ chief stressed, “Teves will now have his day in court, face his long delayed trial and prove his innocence, if indeed he is innocent.”

Topacio argued that even if Teves is brought back to the country, Teves will still need to be proven guilty in court. Topacio said the DOJ will be having a hard time doing this.

The 10 alleged gunmen during the shooting incident in Pamplona town, Negros Oriental on March 4, 2023, which killed then Gov. Roel Degamo and nine other individuals, have recanted their statements pinning down Teves as the “mastermind” of the crime. Teves has denied the allegations.