Latest news with #ArnieTeves
Filipino Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Filipino Times
Ex-lawmaker Arnie Teves deported from Timor-Leste, back in the Philippines
Former Negros Oriental Representative Arnie Teves, who is facing multiple murder charges, has returned to the Philippines after being deported from Timor-Leste. Teves arrived aboard a military aircraft after two years of seeking political asylum in the Southeast Asian nation. Timor-Leste authorities arrested Teves in his Dili residence and held him at the Ministry of the Interior before deportation. The Timorese government justified his removal, stating that allowing him to stay in Timor-Leste could be seen as providing refuge to fugitives, which would compromise efforts against transnational crime. Teves' legal team attempted to halt the deportation by filing for a writ of habeas corpus, which his lawyer, Ferdinand Topacio, claimed was granted. However, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla asserted that no such writ was issued. Teves faces 13 counts of murder, 13 counts of frustrated murder, and four counts of attempted murder for crimes allegedly committed between 2019 and 2023, including the killing of a provincial governor and nine others.
Filipino Times
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Filipino Times
PH disappointed with Timor-Leste refusal to extradite Arnie Teves
The Philippine government conveyed its disappointment with the Timor-Leste government following its refusal to extradite former lawmaker Arnie Teves. In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) lamented the lack of trust from Timor-Leste in the Philippine justice system. 'We are disappointed that Timor Leste has not shown enough trust in the delivery of justice in the Philippines, a founding member of the ASEAN which it seeks to join, and among the very first ASEAN member states to convey support for its aspiration to join the association,' said the DFA in a statement. The DFA did not respond to queries about whether the Philippines will block the membership of Timor-Leste in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Timor-Leste has observer status in ASEAN. The regional bloc, of which the Philippines is a founding member, groups Brunei Darussalam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. 'While its application is dependent on its compliance with the Roadmap for full membership in ASEAN and its accession to the ASEAN Charter, it should also be able to demonstrate that it shares the spirit of trust and cooperation that ASEAN member states accord one another, not only within the framework of ASEAN, but also in their bilateral relations,' said the DFA. Timor-Leste's Tribunal de Recursos rejected the Philippine government's extradition request on March 20, citing concerns over potential torture if Teves were returned. Teves fled the Philippines after the assassination of former Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo. He was tagged as a mastermind.
