Expelled lawmaker Arnolfo Teves arrested in Timor-Leste, his son says
Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr., the Negros Oriental 3rd District representative whom the House of Representatives had expelled in 2023, was arrested in Timor-Leste, his son said.
In a Facebook post during the wee hours of May 28, Axl Teves shared a 10-second video of local authorities catching Arnie and taking him out of his residence.
"My father has been kidnapped and abused!" Axl said in the caption in all caps.
Arnie has been accused of being the mastermind in the assassination of his political rival, former Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo, and eight others in March 2023. He has denied the allegation.
Later that year, he and 12 others were tagged as terrorists by the Anti-Terrorism Council due to alleged killings and harassment in his bailiwick.
The following August, the House of Representatives expelled Arnie for “disorderly behavior" and for violation of its code of conduct. His fellow lawmakers argued that his repeated attempts to seek asylum in Timor-Leste following Degamo's death led to a prolonged and unjustified absence, and was tantamount to abandonment of his office.
'We are held against our will'
In a 43-second video message on Facebook, the former lawmaker, speaking in Tetum and English, called Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão for help.
"We are held against our will. They are not letting me go," Arnie said.
In a 5-minute video message, Axl said his father was arrested at around 8 p.m. local time, and had information an hour before that "a private aircraft was scheduled to fly over to Timor-Leste."
"Immigration officers arrived at his residence and picked him up. They just picked him up without documents, without warrants, or any form of legal documents. They just came in, forcefully. They took him out forcefully," Axl claimed.
Axl said the lawmaker was held "illegally" at the immigration office.
"He is asking me to inform everybody about the situation, and he is calling out to [the United Nations], the [Commission on Human Rights]," Axl said.
The son noted Arnie winning his extradition case—filed by the Philippine government—last March after rejecting his appeal twice, first in June 2024 and then in December 2024.
"The Timorese Court ruled in favor of my father," Axl said. "So, supposed to be, he should be in Timor living peacefully and safely. But we were shocked that just last night he was illegally kidnapped and is now illegally detained together with his lawyers."
Axl claimed his father and lawyer "were a little harmed" during the nabbing.
He also compared the situation to the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte by the International Criminal Court through the International Criminal Police Organization.
"We do not approve of this and we do not want my father to be flown out of Timor-Leste," Axl said.
Philippines 'prepared to bring Mr. Teves home'
Hours after Axl's post made the rounds online, the Department of Justice said the Philippine government notes the recent developments regarding Arnie's situation.
"We reiterate that the Philippines has been prepared to bring Mr. Teves home to face the charges against him since the time our request for his extradition was first granted," the DOJ said. "However, that decision was unexpectedly reversed, stalling the process."
The agency noted that it's awaiting the Timor-Leste government's action of either deporting Arnie as an undocumented foreigner or extraditing him in line with their previous application after "indicating a renewed position that Mr. Teves should not remain in their territory."
"Nonetheless, we are ready to arrange the transfer of custody by the most expeditious means once we are clarified on this issue," it said. "We remain ready and committed to bring Mr. Teves to justice in accordance with the rule of law and the principles of international cooperation."
"We continue to work closely with the appropriate authorities in Timor-Leste and stand by to act the moment a formal process is initiated," the DOJ added.
Mrs. Degamo remembers her assassinated husband, political ally
Incoming Negros Oriential 3rd District Rep. Janice Degamo, the widow of Degamo who ran for the position that her assassinated husband held, on Facebook shared a video of her oath-taking.
Janice noted that she took her oath before the office of barangay captain Rodello Quinikito, the husband of the late barangay captain Florinda Quinikito, whom she described as "an extraordinary woman who fearlessly placed herself between Roel and the gunmen in a final, heroic act of protection."
"March 4, 2023 will forever be etched in our hearts as a day of sorrow and injustice," Janice said, referring to the day of Degamo and Florinda's deaths.
She noted that Florinda's "courage will never be forgotten."
"Her sacrifice was not only for Roel but for the people he served," she added.
Janice noted that their "political battle has never been about greed or titles, it’s about honoring sacrifice, reclaiming our province’s dignity and showing the enemies of justice that we will never bow to fear."
"To the families of all those who perished that day and to every person who continues to believe in truth, justice and good governance," she said, "I took my oath not just for Roel, not just for Kapitan Florinda, but for each and every one of you."
"The fight continues. And I will carry it forward with all the strength, love and courage they left behind," she added.
