TIMOR-LESTE TURNS DOWN TEVES’ APPEAL TO STOP HIS EXTRADITION

THE government of Timor-Leste has  rejected the appeal filed by former Negros Oriental 3rd district Rep. Arnolfo Teves on his extradition to the Philippines.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday said it received an official update from the Prosecutor General of Timor-Leste regarding Teves’ motion for reconsideration seeking to reverse the Timor-Leste Court of Appeals’ decision on his extradition.

“We wish to inform the public that this motion has been denied,” the DOJ said.

According to Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla, the ruling is “a significant step forward.”

“This decision underscores that justice proceeds irrespective of an individual’s status,” he said.

The former Negros solon is facing 10 counts of murder, 12 counts of frustrated murder, and four counts of attempted murder before the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 51 over the March 4, 2023 shootings in Pamplona, Negros Oriental that led to the killing of Gov. Roel Degamo and several others.

Teves fled to Dili, Timor-Leste, and applied for political asylum.

He was arrested in March while playing golf. He was released from Becora Prison but was re-arrested and transferred to the Polícia Nacional of Timor-Leste.

The DOJ said that on June 27, the Court of Appeals of Timor-Leste granted the Philippines’ request for Teves’ extradition.

Teves has filed an appeal on the ruling.