Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla said Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. was reported to be arriving in the Philippines on Wednesday, May 17.
In a press briefing late Tuesday afternoon, May 16, Remulla said the information on Teves’ arrival was relayed to him by a person “with access to flight data into the country.”
“He is a very reliable source for those who come in and out of the country,” Remulla said.
However, Remulla said he has no information which airport in the Philippines would Teves disembark and from what country would he depart.
“But I think it would be Timor-Leste,” he said.
Teves was reported to have applied for political asylum in Timor Teste but it was denied.
Remulla said “law enforcement agencies have been placed on alert so that he can be secured properly, and so, we will not be surprised by the arrival.”
He welcomed the arrival of Teves whom he tagged as “one of the masterminds” in the killing of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel R. Degamo and nine other persons last March 4 in Pamplona town.
Teves has stayed abroad despite the expiration of his travel authority last March 9. He has denied the allegations against him in the Degamo slaying.
After more than two months abroad, Remulla believes that Teves decided to return to the Philippines since it has become more difficult for him to travel abroad.
“Most probably it’s difficult already to go around the world now when you are already on Interpol (International Criminal Police Organization) notice and it is already known in the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) that he is the subject of designation as a terrorist within our Anti-Terror Council,” he explained.
Remulla had earlier confirmed the filing on May 17 by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) of criminal complaints against Teves in the Degamo slaying.
Expected to be filed against Teves are complaints for multiple murder, multiple frustrated murder and serious physical injuries.
If Teves returns to the Philippines on May 17, “this means he can answer the process of law once a case is filed against him tomorrow,” he said.