The Department of Justice (DOJ) believes it won’t be long before expelled Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. will be extradited to the Philippines.
(Photo from expelled Negros Oriental 3rd district Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. via Facebook)
DOJ spokesman Assistant Secretary Jose Dominic Clavano IV revealed on Saturday, Sept. 7, that even Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta wanted to send Teves back home.
“Yesterday actually lumabas ang balita na ang president ng Timor-Leste mismo, si (news came out that the president of Timor-Leste himself) José Ramos-Horta, mentioned that it will not be too long before he will go home,” he disclosed.
Clavano cited how Ramos-Horta said there was “no hindrance” to the lawmaker’s extradition to the Philippines.
“And I don’t think that the president of Timor-Leste wants him to stay any longer,” he added.
Teves, who is facing a murder trial over the killing of then Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, was arrested last March in Timor-Leste.
In June, the Court of Appeals in Timor-Leste granted the Philippine government’s request to extradite Teves.
Clavano said the DOJ is currently coordinating with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and that they hope to have the disgraced lawmaker back in the country “right after” the Papal visit in Timor-Leste on Sept. 9.
“Again, this is a whole-of-government approach that we are doing in the case of former Congressman Teves and we hope to execute everything or operation right after the papal visit,” he added.
However, the DOJ official refused to give more information about the extradition plans and said that the timeline would depend on Timor-Leste authorities.