Latest news with #EastTimor
The Independent
29-05-2025
- General
- The Independent
East Timor deports an ex-Filipino congressman accused of masterminding a governor's murder
East Timor on Thursday deported a former Filipino congressman charged with multiple murders in the Philippines, saying that he was a national security threat whose presence could damage the country's image before its entry to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Ex-Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. was arrested in East Timor's capital of Dili on Wednesday by immigration authorities and would immediately be deported to the Philippines for staying without a visa and after his passport was cancelled by Manila's Department of Foreign Affairs, the East Timor government said in a statement. Teves was seen in handcuffs being escorted by East Timor police officers to an awaiting Philippine air force plane. The plane left Dili on Thursday afternoon. Teves had been in Dili for more than two years as he tried to seek asylum, straining relations between the two Southeast Asian democracies. The Philippines has been calling on East Timor to send Teves back to face trial. The Department of Justice in Manila on Thursday welcomed East Timor's decision and said it has designated a team of justice and immigration officials to help repatriate Teves. East Timor said in a statement that Teves' presence in the country was 'unacceptable' and his stay for more than two years 'poses a disruptive factor in bilateral relations between the two states and establishes a serious precedent with potential implications for internal security.' 'The perception that Timor-Leste might be viewed as a refuge for individuals fleeing international justice undermines the integrity of our borders and our shared efforts to combat transnational crime,' East Timor said, using the country's formal name. 'The imminent full accession of Timor-Leste to ASEAN, scheduled for October this year, further reinforces the responsibility of the Timorese state to actively collaborate with its regional partners in upholding justice, legality, and stability in the region,' according to East Timor. East Timor President José Ramos-Horta told The Associated Press in an interview in Dili in September that there was 'no possibility, under the law' that Teves would be able to remain in East Timor and that he would likely be sent back to the Philippines after his appeal to gain asylum had been exhausted. Teves has been sought by the Philippine government in connection with the March 2023 killings of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and several other people, including impoverished villagers seeking medical aid from him, by men in military camouflage and body armor who barged into his central Philippine home with assault rifles. At least 17 others were wounded in the brazen attack, which was captured on security cameras. Teves has denied involvement in the killings, which President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who was backed by Degamo, then called 'purely political.' East Timor, Asia's youngest country, is in the process of joining the Philippines and nine other countries in the ASEAN, a regional grouping which espouses the rule of law and good governance. It currently has observer status in the regional bloc. Teves' initial request to seek asylum in East Timor was rejected, a decision which he appealed. In March 2024, police arrested Teves while he was playing at a golf driving range in Dili and it's not immediately clear how he managed to regain liberty before bring put into custody by immigration authorities on Wednesday. __ Associated Press writers Edna Tarigan in Jakarta, Indonesia, and Jim Gomez in Manila, Philippines, contributed to this report.
Free Malaysia Today
29-05-2025
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
East Timor to deport ex-Philippine lawmaker wanted in 2023 killings
A provincial governor was killed while distributing aid at his home in Pamplona in the March 2023 attack. (AFP pic) MANILA : East Timor has agreed to deport an Interpol-wanted Philippines murder suspect after two years of political wrangling, with the government linking the case to its aspirations to join the regional Asean bloc. Former Philippines congressman Arnolfo Teves allegedly masterminded a March 2023 attack that killed then-provincial governor Roel Degamo and nine others. Teves was detained at a driving range in Dili last year, but a Timorese court blocked his extradition. Manila's justice secretary suggested the decision may have been bought, saying it was 'obvious that some people are making money out of this'. 'The government hereby informs that Arnolfo Teves Jr will be deported from Timor-Leste,' it said in a statement, using the country's alternate name. It added that East Timor's 'imminent full accession' to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) had reinforced its responsibility to collaborate regionally on legal matters. Today, Manila's department of justice said it was preparing a team to facilitate Teves' repatriation based on deportation documents from East Timor. Ex-lawmaker Teves is the prime suspect in the murder of former Negros Oriental governor Degamo. Degamo had been distributing aid at his home in Pamplona when six people carrying rifles and dressed in military fatigues entered the compound and opened fire on March 4, 2023. The killings came months after Degamo was declared winner of a disputed vote, unseating Henry Teves, the ex-lawmaker's brother. Arnolfo Teves was expelled from the house of representatives after refusing to return to the Philippines to face murder charges. Yesterday, Teves' son Axl posted videos on social media of his father being dragged away by Timorese police, claiming he had been 'kidnapped'. Degamo's widow Janice, meanwhile, called the arrest a 'significant step towards justice'. Teves is currently being held in detention while awaiting administrative processing, a source at Dili's interior ministry told AFP.
Washington Post
29-05-2025
- General
- Washington Post
East Timor to deport an ex-Filipino congressman accused of masterminding a governor's murder
DILI, East Timor — East Timor said Thursday it would deport a former Filipino congressman charged with multiple murders in the Philippines and added that he was a national security threat whose presence could damage the country's image ahead of its entry to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Ex-Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. was arrested in East Timor's capital of Dili on Wednesday by immigration authorities and would immediately be deported to the Philippines for staying without a visa and after his passport was cancelled by Manila's Department of Foreign Affairs, the East Timor government said in a statement.
Associated Press
29-05-2025
- General
- Associated Press
East Timor to deport an ex-Filipino congressman accused of masterminding a governor's murder
DILI, East Timor (AP) — East Timor said Thursday it would deport a former Filipino congressman charged with multiple murders in the Philippines and added that he was a national security threat whose presence could damage the country's image ahead of its entry to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Ex-Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. was arrested in East Timor's capital of Dili on Wednesday by immigration authorities and would immediately be deported to the Philippines for staying without a visa and after his passport was cancelled by Manila's Department of Foreign Affairs, the East Timor government said in a statement. East Timor did not immediately specify a date for the deportation of Teves, who has been staying in Dili for more than two years as he tried to seek asylum, straining relations between the two Southeast Asian democracies. The Philippines has been calling on East Timor to repatriate Teves to face trial. The Department of Justice in Manila on Thursday welcomed East Timor's decision and said it has designated a team of justice and immigration officials to help repatriate Teves. East Timor said in a statement that Teves' presence in the country was 'unacceptable' and his stay for more than two years 'poses a disruptive factor in bilateral relations between the two states and establishes a serious precedent with potential implications for internal security.' 'The perception that Timor-Leste might be viewed as a refuge for individuals fleeing international justice undermines the integrity of our borders and our shared efforts to combat transnational crime,' East Timor said, using the country's formal name. 'The imminent full accession of Timor-Leste to ASEAN, scheduled for October this year, further reinforces the responsibility of the Timorese state to actively collaborate with its regional partners in upholding justice, legality, and stability in the region,' according to East Timor. East Timor President José Ramos-Horta told The Associated Press in an interview in Dili in September that there was 'no possibility, under the law' that Teves would be able to remain in East Timor and that he would likely be sent back to the Philippines after his appeal to gain asylum had been exhausted. Teves has been sought by the Philippine government in connection with the March 2023 killings of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and several other people, including impoverished villagers seeking medical aid from him, by men in military camouflage and body armor who barged into his central Philippine home with assault rifles. At least 17 others were wounded in the brazen attack, which was captured on security cameras. Teves has denied involvement in the killings, which President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who was backed by Degamo, then called 'purely political.' East Timor, Asia's youngest country, is in the process of joining the Philippines and nine other countries in the ASEAN, a regional grouping which espouses the rule of law and good governance. It currently has observer status in the regional bloc. Teves' initial request to seek asylum in East Timor was rejected, a decision which he appealed. In March 2024, police arrested Teves while he was playing at a golf driving range in Dili and it's not immediately clear how he managed to regain liberty before bring put into custody by immigration authorities on Wednesday. __ Associated Press writers Edna Tarigan in Jakarta, Indonesia, and Jim Gomez in Manila, Philippines, contributed to this report.
Arab News
29-05-2025
- General
- Arab News
East Timor to deport former Philippine lawmaker wanted in 2023 killings
MANILA: East Timor has agreed to deport an Interpol-wanted Philippines murder suspect after two years of political wrangling, with the government linking the case to its aspirations to join the regional ASEAN bloc. Former Philippines congressman Arnolfo Teves allegedly masterminded a March 2023 attack that killed then-provincial governor Roel Degamo and nine others. Teves was detained at a driving range in Dili last year, but a Timorese court blocked his extradition. Manila's justice secretary suggested the decision may have been bought, saying it was 'obvious that some people are making money out of this.' In an abrupt turnaround, East Timor late on Wednesday announced Teves' impending deportation, saying his continued presence represented a security risk. 'The Government hereby informs that Arnolfo Teves Jr. will be deported from Timor-Leste,' it said in a statement, using the country's alternate name. It added that East Timor's 'imminent full accession' to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) had reinforced its responsibility to collaborate regionally on legal matters. On Thursday, Manila's Department of Justice said it was preparing a team to facilitate Teves' repatriation based on deportation documents from East Timor. Ex-lawmaker Teves is the prime suspect in the murder of former Negros Oriental governor Degamo. Degamo had been distributing aid at his home in Pamplona when six people carrying rifles and dressed in military fatigues entered the compound and opened fire on March 4, 2023. The killings came months after Degamo was declared winner of a disputed vote, unseating Henry Teves, the ex-lawmaker's brother. Arnolfo Teves was expelled from the House of Representatives after refusing to return to the Philippines to face murder charges. On Wednesday, Teves' son Axl posted videos on social media of his father being dragged away by Timorese police, claiming he had been 'kidnapped.' Degamo's widow Janice, meanwhile, called the arrest a 'significant step toward justice.' Teves is currently being held in detention while awaiting administrative processing, a source at Dili's interior ministry said.
