TIMOR LESTE GRANTS PH’ REQUEST TO EXTRADITE TEVES — DOJ

THE Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday confirmed that the Court of Appeals of Timor Leste granted the Philippines’ extradition request against former Negros Oriental congressman Arnolfo Teves Jr..

The Department of Justice (DOJ) said the information was relayed by the Attorney-General of Timor Leste.

“The Department of Justice confirms the grant of the extradition request made by the Philippine government. The information was relayed to us by the Attorney-General of Timor Leste. We have won,” the DOJ, in a statement, said.

“We look forward to the arrival of Mr. Teves so that he may finally face the charges against him in our local courts,” it added.

The former lawmaker 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 in relation to the March 4, 2023 shootings that killed Gov. Roel Degamo and nine others in Pamplona, Negros Oriental.

Teves fled to Dili, Timor-Leste and submitted his application for political asylum.

He was arrested while playing golf in Dili last March.

Early this month, he was released from Becora Prison but was re-arrested and transferred to the Polícia Nacional of Timor-Leste.

Teves was also designated terrorist by the Anti-Terrorism Council, along with his brother, former Negros Oriental governor Pryde Henry Teves over their alleged involvement in several murder cases and harassment in the province when they were still in public office.

The former Negros solon’s assets in the Philippines had been ordered frozen.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has expressed hope that Teves would soon be extradited to the country to face multiple charges filed in court.