HEADLINE-COURTS & CRIME | MANILA, Philippines —NBI picking up Teves in Timor

Arrest not Indicative of guilt, says lawyer

MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will pick up expelled Negros Oriental congressman Arnolfo Teves Jr. from East Timor where he was arrested on Thursday after months in hiding.

NBI Director Medardo de Lemos and his team are set to fly to East Timor on March 27 to coordinate with Dili officials for the turnover of Teves to Philippine authorities, NBI public information office chief Nick Suarez told The STAR yesterday.

“We hope that on their return to the Philippines, they already have congressman Teves,” Suarez said.

Teves’ return under NBI escort would be coordinated with other concerned agencies, Suarez added. He did not reveal other details on security preparations.

Upon his arrival, Teves would be placed under the custody of the Department of Justice (DOJ), Suarez said.

Teves, wanted for the murder of Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo and nine others in Pamplona on March 4 last year, was arrested by members of Timor-Leste’s Scientific and Criminal Investigation Police while playing golf in Dili.

In a post on X, President Marcos lauded the “collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies and their international partners” that led to Teves’ arrest.

“I assure the Filipino people that we will spare no effort in ensuring that justice will prevail in this case,” the President said. “I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all those involved in this operation for their unwavering dedication to upholding peace and order.”

Rude awakening for DOJ

But for Teves’ lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, the arrest of the ousted congressman was not indicative of his guilt.

“(It) is simply because of the mechanisms inherent in the system of the Interpol,” Topacio said in a statement. “Any implication that he is already guilty thereof is not only premature but injudicious and ignorant as well.”

He also accused the Marcos administration of using the incident as a “diversion” to cover up its “lack of concrete achievement” as well as “the discontent of the vast majority.”

“We will just wait for the DOJ’s rude awakening which will happen soon enough, as its cases against Teves continue to collapse under the weight of lies and fabrications,” he added.

Following Teves’ arrest, Topacio said he was able to speak to his client regarding the circumstances of his arrest. He declined to share details of their conversation, citing lawyer-client privilege.

Deportation or extradition?

Earlier yesterday, DOJ spokesman Mico Clavano said Teves would be sent back to the Philippines either through deportation, extradition or whatever authorities would deem “most feasible, quick and effective.”

“There are several options being considered. There is extradition, there is deportation,” Clavano said yesterday, citing talks with Timor-Leste officials regarding the turnover of Teves to Philippine authorities.

“The meetings are ongoing right now to discuss which is the best option to bring Teves back to the country,” he added.

Teves is facing murder charges for the killing of Degamo and nine others on March 4, 2023. He is also linked to the deaths of several political foes in 2019.

After being linked to the Degamo assassination, Teves went into hiding, prompting the House of Representatives to vote for his expulsion in August last year.

The government subsequently cancelled his passport, while the Interpol issued an international Red Notice for Teves’ provisional detention pending turnover to the state seeking his arrest.

Dili had also turned down his application for asylum.

According to Clavano, deportation is “quicker” than extradition, as Teves no longer has a valid passport.

He pointed out that extradition would “take some time” because of the many requirements the Philippines has to comply with.

Citing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC), Clavano said the Philippines may still request for extradition with Timor-Leste despite the absence of an extradition treaty between the two countries.

The UNTOC is the “main international instrument in the fight against transnational organized crime,” he pointed out.

But it’s up to Timor-Leste to decide when to send Teves back to the Philippines, the DOJ official added.

Crame or QC detention

Citing the nature of Teves’ case, Clavano said the DOJ has deemed it necessary to put on top priority the task of ensuring the safety of the former congressman.

“We all know how big of a case this is for us. We just want to make sure that we are here to stand trial, safe and sound,” he said.

In consideration of his safety, Clavano said they are considering holding Teves at Camp Crame in Quezon City or at the detention center of the NBI.

“As soon as Mr. Teves is back, we can expect the courts to unarchive the cases to arraign (him),” he said.

Philippine National Police chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. also said his men – particularly those from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group – are ready to provide additional security to Teves upon his return.

He said the PNP is awaiting further instructions from the DOJ and from the Department of Foreign Affairs regarding security arrangements.

But it would be up to the court to decide where to have Teves detained, he pointed out.

Degamo’s widow Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo said Teves’ arrest was an answered prayer.

“Words cannot express how it feels to finally see the man who terrorized our province and brutally murdered my husband surrounded by police,” Degamo said in her social media account.

“Praise God that he has been arrested. We are really happy about this development,” she added.

Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva also welcomed the arrest of Teves as he urged the DOJ and other concerned agencies “to exhaust all efforts to bring to justice the perpetrators” of the “dreadful massacre” of his “good friend” Degamo and several others during an aid distribution activity.

“The arrest of former Congressman Arnie Teves in Timor Leste is definitely a big step in solving this case,” Villanueva said.

Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV said Teves’ arrest abroad with the help of Interpol would likely mirror the fate of former president Rodrigo Duterte, who is also facing possible arrest by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.

“Teves’ arrest with the help of Interpol and the Timor-Leste police force is an example of how Duterte would be arrested when the ICC issues an arrest warrant and taps Interpol,” Trillanes said in a statement on his social media pages. — Helen Flores, Marc Jayson Cayabyab, Emmanuel Tupas, Gilbert Bayoran

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