Former Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo Teves Jr., who was previously expelled from Congress, has been reportedly rearrested in Timor-Leste.
His son, Axl Teves, shared via Facebook that his father was taken by authorities on the evening of May 27 (Manila time), claiming the incident was akin to abduction and alleged mistreatment.
According to Teves’ legal counsel, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, the arrest was carried out by immigration officers. Topacio also stated that Teves was taken into custody alongside his Timorese lawyer, Joao Serra, and that both are currently being held at the Ministry of Interior’s premises. He added that no formal warrant was presented during the arrest.
The Philippine Department of Justice (DOJ) has not yet verified the official basis for Teves' apprehension but acknowledged recent signals from Timor-Leste indicating their disinterest in allowing Teves to stay in their country.
DOJ spokesperson Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano said in a statement that the government is prepared to coordinate his transfer at the earliest opportunity. The DOJ is also waiting to see whether Teves will be deported due to undocumented status or extradited in response to the Philippines' official request.
Teves’ passport had previously been ordered canceled by the Manila Regional Trial Court in February 2024, following his designation as a terrorist by the Anti-Terrorism Council.
In a statement made during a press conference, Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta emphasized that the country prioritizes its national interest and has no intention of harboring individuals facing serious criminal allegations. He stressed the importance of preventing East Timor from becoming a refuge for fugitives.
This development comes after two prior approvals for Teves' extradition were overturned by Timor-Leste’s Tribunal de Recursos, which sided with the lawmaker’s appeal to block the Philippine government’s request.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla had earlier warned that Timor-Leste’s aspirations to join ASEAN could be compromised if it failed to cooperate with extradition processes, noting the Philippines’ influential role as a founding ASEAN member.
Teves faces multiple legal charges in the Philippines, including:
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Alleged involvement in the March 2023 assassination of Governor Roel Degamo.
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Charges related to the financing of terrorism.
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A separate murder case linked to killings in Negros Oriental in 2019.
Since leaving the Philippines following Degamo’s death, Teves has remained abroad beyond the validity of his travel authorization.
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