Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla said on Monday, March 3, he will go again to Timor-Leste to follow up the extradition of expelled Negros Oriental congressman Arnolfo A. Teves Jr.
Remulla said the High Court of Timor-Leste has yet to rule on the appeal of Teves to prevent his extradition to the Philippines.
“The appeal process in Timor-Leste seems to be endless but I was assured that we will get the news very soon about this matter,” he said.
Otherwise, he said: “I will go back to speak to the leadership again.”
He assured that Teves remains in Timor-Leste even though the fugitive is no longer detained in that country.
In October last year, Remulla travelled to Timor-Leste and met with President Jose Ramos-Horta.
Remulla recounted: “I had word with Mr. Ramos-Horta, the president, and he wanted to learn from us on how justice system should be run because it’s something that is so important now to Timor-Leste.”
He noted that Timor-Leste "has a very young judicial system."
Aside from the issue on Teves, Remulla said he and President Ramos-Horta talked on matters concerning national security, international cooperation and sensitive diplomatic exchanges.
Teves has been designated as a terrorist by the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) in 2023 and is facing multiple criminal charges before the courts including the March 4, 2023 shootings in Pamplona, Negros Oriental where provincial governor Roel Degamo and nine other persons died.
Prior the shooting, Teves left for the United States and has not returned since then.
Teves eventually flew to Timor-Leste where he sought asylum.