Interpol's 'red notice' will lead to ex-Rep Teves' arrest -- DOJ
The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) is expected to issue a “red notice” that would pave the way for the arrest of expelled Negros Oriental 3rd District congressman Arnolfo “Arnie” A. Teves Jr., the Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Monday, Feb. 26.
A “red notice” asks countries “to seek the location and arrest of a person wanted by a legal jurisdiction or an international tribunal with a view to his/her extradition,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla said.
Remulla said that Interpol had already issued a "blue notice" against Teves last Feb. 19. The "blue notice" requests countried “to locate, identify or obtain information on a person of interest in a criminal investigation.”
“It will be converted into a red notice because he is undocumented already,” he said.
The Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 51 issued last Feb. 8 an order for the cancellation of Teves' passport. "It is considered final and executory,” he said.
Teves, who has yet to return to the Philippines, faces murder charges in court for the March 4, 2023 shooting in Pamplona, Negros Oriental that led to deaths of 10 persons including Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo as well as injury to 8 other individuals.
The expelled congressman has also been charged with multiple murder in the deaths of three persons in Negros Oriental in 2019.
Citing information he received, Remulla said Teves remains in Timor-Leste where he is seeking asylum.
But he declined to give a time as to when Teves will be brought back to the Philippines.
“We have to take it a step at a time. Mahirap magbigay ng timeline (It’s difficult to give a timeline),” he said.
"We are working on it because the court's decision is there already so there is no way that he can travel unless he is granted asylum in another country which is far from our imagination,” he also said.
In the meantime, Remulla assured that the Philippine and Timor-Leste governments continue to have talks about Teves.
“It is not even a politcal matter but a criminal justice matter,” the secretary pointed out.