Teves will again appeal court decision granting his extradition to PH

Arnolfo Teves Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Former Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo Teves Jr. will again appeal the decision of the Timor-Leste Court of Appeals granting his extradition to the Philippines, his legal counsel Ferdinand Topacio said Tuesday.

“The ball is in the court of our lawyers in Timor-Leste. But, of course, I am almost certain that we will file an appeal, and the appellate process will be underway pretty soon,” Topacio told reporters.

Last week, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that the Timor-Leste court again granted the Philippine government’s extradition request against Teves.

READ: Timor-Leste grants extradition request vs Teves for 2nd time

The DOJ said the decision came after a second round of hearings. The DOJ remains optimistic that the Timor-Leste court would affirm its ruling.

Topacio said they also remain hopeful that the Timor-Leste court’s decision will be reversed.

“I do not know where the confidence of the DOJ is coming from; do they know something that we do not? If there is something going on and there are influences brought to bear on the judiciary of Timor-Leste eh mabigat po iyon (that is heavy),” he added.

Teves is no longer under house arrest, according to Topacio.

“He just cannot leave Timor-Leste because his passport has been canceled. But they cannot deport him because he entered the country legally and he has committed no crimes under Timor-Leste law,” he added.

READ: Teves released from detention in Timor-Leste, says his lawyer

Teves has been charged with the 2023 murder of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and nine others in what is now known as the Pamplona Massacre.

Teves has denied the charges. He refused to return to the Philippines, saying he was subject to political persecution.