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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Ex-Rep Teves challenges his arrest, detention in Timor-Leste

Ex-Rep Teves challenges his arrest, detention in Timor-Leste

Published May 28, 2025 03:48 pm

The lawyer in the Philippines of expelled Negros Oriental congressman Arnolfo A. Teves Jr. said the former legislator has filed before the Timor-Leste court a petition challenging his arrest and detention.

In an interview, lawyer Ferdinand Topacio said Teves’s lawyers in Timor-Leste have filed a petition for the issuance of a writ of habeas corpus which, he said, is “a universal remedy for those unlawfully deprived of liberty.”

Topacio told journalists that if the basis for Teves’ arrest was his deportation since the former legislator is an undocumented alien due to the cancellation of his passport, Timor-Leste authorities should “explain what will be the basis for the deportation.”

He reminded that the Timor-Leste court has rejected twice the plea of the Philippine government to have Teves extradited.

He pointed out: “In fact, the Philippine government even made another recourse after the second rejection. They made a constitutional challenge to that denial and that constitutional challenge, a few days ago or a week ago, was also denied by the Timor-Leste court.”

Teves is also seeking political asylum in Timor-Leste, Topacio said as he stressed that “under general principles of international law, a person who is applying for asylum should not be removed in the place where asylum is being sought.”

“So, sa amin po, from the point of view of general provisions of international law, highly irregular din po ang pag-aresto sa kanya if the purpose of that arrest is to deport him (So, for us, from the point of view of the general provisions of international law, the arrest of Teves is highly irregular if the purpose is for deportation),” he also said.

Earlier, Topacio confirmed that Teves has been arrested by immigration police in Timor-Leste.

“At around 8 p.m. yesterday (Dili time), our client, Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr., was taken from his residence in Dili together with his Timor Leste counsel, Dr. Joao Serra, by immigration police,” Topacio said.

Teves and Serra are now detained inside the compound of the Ministry of the Interior where Teves has been accompanied by another counsel, he also said.

The Department of Justice (DOJ), on the other hand, said the government is prepared to bring Teves back to the Philippines after his arrest in Timor-Leste.

“We are ready to arrange the transfer of custody by the most expeditious means once we are clarified on this issue,” the DOJ said in a statement.

 Teves, who has been designated as a terrorist by the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC), is facing multiple charges including the March 4, 2023 shooting in Pamplona, Negros Oriental that resulted in the deaths of Gov. Roel Degamo and nine other persons.

The Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 51 issued in 2024 a warrant for his arrest in connection with the Pamplona shootings.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has also cancelled the passport of Teves upon the order of the RTC. The cancellation of the passport  resulted in Teves being an undocumented alien in Timor-Leste.

Prior to the Pamplona incident, Teves left for the United States and has not returned since then.

Due to his prolonged and unauthorized absences, the House of Representatives expelled Teves as a legislator.

Teves eventually flew to Timor-Leste where he sought asylum.

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