Teves takes harassment claims to UN – Topacio

Former Rep. Arnoldo Teves with lawyer Ferdinand Topacio. His lawyer said the Teves camp is raising the harassment issue to the United Nations. (FILE) Photo from Atty. Ferdinand Topacio

MANILA, Philippines — Former Negros Oriental congressman Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves has raised his claims of harassment and political persecution to the United Nations (UN) Commission on Human Rights, according to his lawyer Atty. Ferdinand Topacio.

During the Pandesal Forum on Monday, Topacio said that Teves has retained counsel in the Netherlands and they have made filings before the UN.

Topacio explained that one complaint invokes Teves’ human rights and alleged human rights violations, while the other one is an application seeking review by the UN special rapporteurs to determine if there have been violations of his rights under international law.

READ: Timor Leste court approves PH extradition request vs Teves

The legal counsel stressed that the Philippines is a signatory to both the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Treaty on Civil and Political Rights.

“Under the doctrine of incorporation, they become also part of the law [at] the same level as acts of Congress. Therefore, dapat sundin ng ating gobyerno,” Topacio said during the forum.

(Therefore, it needs to be followed by our government.)

As for Teves’ appeal for reconsideration regarding the extradition, Topacio confirmed that there have been no updates yet.

On June 27, the Department of Justice announced that the Timor Leste Court granted the Philippines’ request to extradite Teves, and that he will return to the country soon.

However, the former lawmaker has yet to come back.

Teves is charged with 10 counts of murder, 12 counts of frustrated murder, and four counts of attempted murder related to the March 4, 2023 attack, which resulted in the death of Governor Roel Degamo and nine others.

Additionally, the Anti-Terrorisn Council has labeled Teves a terrorist, which led to the freezing of his assets in the Philippines. Arianne Denisse Cagsawa, INQUIRER.net trainee