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Filipino Times
2 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.
Irish Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Climate
- Irish Daily Mirror
Major Spain holiday warning as heatwave brings 40C temps for Irish tourists
Irish holidaymakers heading to Spain in the coming days are being urged to take extreme caution as a sweltering heatwave grips much of the country - with temperatures soaring as high as 40C. Spain remains one of the most popular holiday destinations for Irish tourists, especially in the early summer with schools wrapping up and families preparing to jet off for some sun, sea and sangria. However, Spain's meteorological agency AEMET has issued Status Orange weather warnings for several inland regions as the country braces for exceptionally high temperatures - particularly across southern and central parts of the Iberian Peninsula. The Ministry of the Interior's Directorate General for Civil Protection and Emergencies has warned that the southwest quadrant, the central plateau and the Ebro Valley are likely to be worst hit. The peak of the heatwave is expected Thursday and Friday, when temperatures could reach: 35C in the northern plateau 37C in the Tagus and Ebro Valleys 39C in the lower Guadiana 40C in the Guadalquivir Valley Meanwhile, nighttime temperatures will also rise, staying above 20C in parts of the south and along the Mediterranean coast. The Balearic Islands - including Mallorca and Ibiza - are also expected to feel the heat, with inland highs exceeding 30C from Friday onwards. Northern coastal areas such as Galicia and the Cantabrian region will mostly escape the worst, due to cooler northerly winds. According to AEMET, a mass of hot, dry air of African origin is sweeping across the Iberian Peninsula. This heat surge is being driven by southerly winds caused by a low-pressure system sitting between the Canary Islands and the Gulf of Cadiz. Along with the blistering heat, dust and haze is expected to affect the southern coast, the Strait of Gibraltar and Melilla, reducing air quality. The extreme conditions are forecast to ease from Monday and Tuesday, although some regions could see a renewed spike in temperatures later next week. The Spanish Civil Protection Directorate is advising Irish holidaymakers and locals to follow self-protection guidelines, particularly vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions. Key advice includes: Irish tourists planning a Spanish getaway are urged to keep a close eye on local weather updates, follow the guidance from AEMET and Civil Protection, and take every precaution to stay safe under the blazing sun.
Filipino Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Filipino Times
Arnie Teves arrested in Timor-Leste, detained amid extradition dispute
Expelled Negros Oriental Representative Arnie Teves was arrested in Dili, Timor-Leste, where he is currently detained by immigration authorities, his lawyer confirmed. Teves, accused of masterminding the assassination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and nine others, was taken from his residence. According to his counsel, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, no warrant or formal documentation was presented during the arrest. Teves and his Timorese legal representative, Joao Serra, are being held at the Ministry of the Interior compound. In response, Teves' legal team has filed a writ of habeas corpus in Timor-Leste in an effort to block what they allege could be a forced deportation to the Philippines. 'From the standpoint of international law, the arrest is highly irregular if the intent is deportation,' Topacio said in a virtual interview. He argued that Teves cannot be considered an undocumented alien, noting that his passport was only canceled after he had applied for asylum. 'He is a free man. He is not facing any criminal charges in Timor-Leste,' Topacio emphasized. Meanwhile, the Philippine Department of Justice (DOJ) has yet to receive formal notification from Timor-Leste but stated its readiness to facilitate Teves' transfer should the opportunity arise. 'We are ready to arrange the transfer of custody by the most expeditious means once we are clarified on this issue,' the DOJ said in a statement. Degamo's widow, Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo, welcomed the arrest, describing it as a long-overdue step toward justice. 'This is a reminder that no one is above the law,' she said in a social media post. 'We now look forward to proper legal proceedings that will bring lasting peace to our province and long-overdue justice for my beloved Roel and the hundreds of others who suffered at the hands of the Teves Terrorist Group.' The arrest adds another chapter to a long-running legal saga. In 2023, Timor-Leste's Court of Appeals initially approved the Philippine government's extradition request, which Teves appealed. Though the court reversed its decision in his favor, the DOJ filed a subsequent appeal, which remains unresolved.
GMA Network
4 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Timor-Leste government to deport Arnie Teves
"The decision, which takes effect immediately, is based on national legislation regarding migration and asylum and is grounded in the risks that this citizen's continued presence poses to public order and national security," the Timorr-Leste government said. Timor-Leste will deport former Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. as he has been in the country without a valid visa and legal autorization to stay, the government of the southeast Asian nation said on Wednesday. In a statement, a spokesman for the Timor-Leste government said the decision would take effect immediately. "The Government hereby informs that Arnolfo Teves Jr. will be deported from Timor-Leste by administrative decision of the Ministry of the Interior, as he is in the country without a valid visa, lacking legal authorization to remain, and holding a passport that the Government of the Philippines has cancelled," the statement read. "The decision, which takes effect immediately, is based on national legislation regarding migration and asylum and is grounded in the risks that this citizen's continued presence poses to public order and national security," it added. Teves is the principal accused in the killing of then Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo in March 2023. He has since applied for asylum in Timor-Leste. Based on the Facebook post of Teves' son Axl early Wednesday, the former lawmaker was nabbed by immigration officers in Timor-Leste. Allegedly, no warrant or any other document was shown during the arrest. Based on a report by local media Teves was nabbed and placed under the custody of Timor-Leste immigration police. "His extended stay in Timor-Leste for over 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 Timor-Leste government said. "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," it added. "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," the Timor-Leste government said. –NB, GMA Integrated News
Epoch Times
24-05-2025
- Epoch Times
US Offers up to $2 Million for Arrest of One of South America's Most Wanted Fugitives
On May 21, the U.S. government issued a reward offer of up to $2 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of one of South America's most wanted fugitive drug traffickers. Sebastian Enrique Marset Cabrera, 34, a Uruguayan citizen also known as Gabriel de Souza Beumer or Luis Paulo Amorim Santos, is money laundering in the United States and drug trafficking in Paraguay and Bolivia. 'The United States is also soliciting anyone with direct knowledge of Marset's drug trafficking, money laundering, and acts of violence (actual or threatened) to contact the tipline,' the State Department said on Wednesday. Marset was indicted on March 7, 2024, in the United States for money laundering involving proceeds from his organization's drug trafficking through U.S. financial institutions, the department in a wanted bulletin. In August 2023, Bolivian authorities announced a $100,000 reward for the capture of the Uruguayan national. Marset's wanted notice comes after an investigation into organized crime carried out by the Paraguayan government in conjunction with the Uruguayan Ministry of the Interior, Europol, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) office in Asunción, Paraguay, the State Department reported. Related Stories 5/22/2025 2/6/2025 The investigation linked a criminal network led by Marset to more than 16 tons of cocaine that were seized in Europe, including the seizure of 11 tons in the port of Antwerp, Belgium, in April 2021 and another 4.7 tons in Paraguay. F. Cartwright Weiland, a senior official at the U.S. State Department's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, said during an online press conference that Marset could be in Venezuela. 'He is one of the most wanted fugitives in the entire Southern Cone,' Weiland said. The region includes Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay. 'Marset shamefully hides behind his movie villain persona while competing in sports car races and buying a soccer team,' he added. 'His wealth is stained with blood, with the suffering he has spread from Montevideo to Miami.' 'We know today that [Marset's] location may be in Venezuela,' the official. Although 'it is not confirmed,' he added. Weiland also mentioned Gianina García Troche, Marset's wife, also a Uruguayan citizen, who was arrested at the Madrid airport in July 2024 and extradited to Paraguay after a red notice was issued by Interpol for her alleged involvement in Marset's crimes. On May 21, in a separate , the DEA reported that Federico Ezequiel Santoro Vassallo, a close associate of Marset, is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to a money laundering conspiracy involving millions of dollars from drug trafficking. According to the DEA, Santoro directed the movement of at least $8 million from drug trafficking through U.S. banks in less than five months.
