East Timor has announced plans to deport Arnolfo Teves Jr., a former Philippine congressman wanted in connection with a 2023 murder case, following two years of political and legal disputes. The move aligns with East Timor's aspirations to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and underscores its commitment to regional cooperation on legal matters.
Teves is accused of masterminding the fatal attack on March 4, 2023, that resulted in the deaths of Roel Degamo, the then-provincial governor of Negros Oriental, and nine others. The attack occurred while Degamo was distributing aid at his residence in Pamplona. Six armed men dressed in military fatigues reportedly entered the compound and opened fire.
Following the incident, Teves was detained in Dili, East Timor’s capital, at a driving range last year. However, a Timorese court initially blocked his extradition to the Philippines. Philippine Justice Secretary expressed concerns that the legal obstruction may have been influenced by monetary interests.
In a sudden reversal, East Timor’s government declared that Teves’s continued stay posed a security risk and confirmed his deportation. A government statement emphasized the country's forthcoming full accession to ASEAN, reinforcing its responsibility to collaborate on legal cases within the region.
The Philippine Department of Justice is currently preparing a team to facilitate Teves’ repatriation based on formal deportation documentation issued by East Timor.
Arnolfo Teves was expelled from the Philippine House of Representatives after refusing to return to face the murder charges. The motive behind the killing is believed to be politically charged, as the late Governor Degamo had recently won a contested election that displaced Henry Teves, Arnolfo’s brother.
Teves’s son, Axl Teves, posted videos on social media claiming his father was "kidnapped" by Timorese authorities. Meanwhile, Janice Degamo, the widow of the slain governor, described the arrest and imminent deportation as a "significant step toward justice."
Currently, Arnolfo Teves remains in detention in Dili as administrative procedures are completed, confirmed a source within East Timor’s interior ministry.
