Timor court concludes Teves extradition hearings

MANILA, Philippines — The Court of Appeals (CA) of Timor-Leste has concluded its hearings on the extradition case against expelled Negros Oriental lawmaker Arnolfo Teves Jr. filed by the Philippine government.

The court has given the parties time to submit their respective memorandum/position papers outlining their arguments and positions, according to the Department of Justice.

The DOJ said the Timor-Leste Central Authority would have to submit first the required documents today, followed by Teves’ camp on June 24.

The decision is then expected to come “by or close to the end of June,” the justice department added.

“The DOJ is optimistic that a favorable decision will be made by the Court of Appeals, particularly as our witnesses were able to effectively counter the arguments raised by the camp of Teves,” it said in a statement yesterday.

For his part, Teves’ lawyer Ferdinand Topacio said he is hoping that the Timor-Leste court will not grant the extradition request of the Philippine government.

Topacio added that both Teves and the Philippine government finished presenting their witnesses before the Timor-Leste CA last week.

“We gave it our best shot, and hope and pray that the East Timor court would follow what is in the Constitution, without regard to the diplomatic pressure that the Philippine government has been exerting,” Topacio said.

The Philippines is seeking the extradition of Teves for him to face multiple murder, frustrated murder and attempted murder charges in Manila for the March 4, 2023 assassination of then Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo, along with nine others.

Teves, who has been placed under house arrest by the Court of Appeals of Timor-Leste, was arrested last March 21 by local law enforcers after the International Criminal Police or Interpol issued a red notice against him.

The Manila trial court has issued an arrest order against Teves as well as the cancellation of his Philippine passport.

Aside from the Degamo’s murder, Teves and others have also been charged with the deaths of three individuals in Negros Oriental in 2019.

He has also been designated as a “terrorist” last year after he was expelled from the House of Representatives for disorderly conduct and continued absence despite an expired travel authority.