Arnie Teves camp eyes political asylum anew

MAY ALSO RAISE ‘PERSECUTION’ BEFORE UN BODY

The camp of former Negros Oriental congressman and murder suspect Arnolfo ”Arnie” Teves Jr. is exploring several legal options as he faces possible deportation from Timor-Leste. 

Teves, who was charged in court for the murder of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo in March 2023, was arrested while playing golf in Dili on Thursday. 

Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, the former lawmaker’s legal counsel, said a court extended Teves’ detention by 15 days. 

”Trial will resume on Monday. The TL [Timor-Leste] lawyers will then submit arguments in support of other options for Teves, including political asylum,” Topacio said in a statement on Saturday.

”The TL legal team will meet tomorrow to explore other legal moves, including bringing the persecution of Teves to the United Nations [Human Rights Council],” he added.

Teves previously sought political asylum in Timor-Leste but was denied in May 2023. 

According to the National Bureau of Investigation, Teves is a fugitive and considered an undocumented alien in Timor-Leste following the cancellation of his Philippine passport by the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta had also told NBI representatives in Dili about his ”earnest desire for the immediate resolution of the case and emphasized the importance of expeditiously removing Teves from Timor-Leste,” the agency said. 

Teves is facing murder charges for the killing of Degamo and several others at the then-governor’s home on March 4, 2023.

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

Teves was designated a terrorist along with 11 others by the Anti-Terrorism Council in August 2023 due to alleged killings and harassment in Negros Oriental. 

He has repeatedly denied the allegations against him. —VBL, GMA Integrated News