Arnie Teves camp says they are ready for anything

The camp of former Negros Oriental representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. on Monday said they are ready should the former lawmaker be repatriated back to the Philippines to face the charges against him.

“We’re ready for anything. Kahit naman ibalik siya sa Pilipinas, magkakaroon pa naman ng trial. so let’s see kung anong magiging ebidensya,” lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, Teves’ legal counsel in the country, told Balitanghali

(We’re ready for anything. Even if he is returned to the country, there will still be a trial, so let’s see what the evidence will be.)

Teves, who is facing murder charges for the alleged killing of former Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo and others in March 2023, was arrested last week in Dili, Timor-Leste while playing golf.

Topacio previously said that Teves’ stay in Timor-Leste was extended for 15 days while the government is verifying the request of the Philippines and the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) for his custody. 

Due to this, the delegation of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) that went abroad following his arrest returned on Sunday without the former congressman.

“Tuloy na po ang hearing niya at doon po, after mga 15 days or so, depende sa takbo ng hearing ay malalaman po kung anong disposition kay Congressman Teves,” Topacio said.

(His hearing will continue and after 15 days or so, depending on the result of the hearing, we will find out what would be the disposition on Congressman Teves.)

Topacio said the court would decide if it would allow Teves to stay and under what conditions or if he could be returned to the Philippines.

“Ang klaro po diyan ay walang nilabag na batas si Congressman Teves sa Timor-Leste (What is clear is that he did not violate any laws in Timor-Leste),” he added.

Teves was arrested based on the INTERPOL red notice issued against him in February. A red notice is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action.

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

Teves and 12 others have also been designated as terrorists by the Anti-Terrorism Council, citing several alleged killings and harassment in Negros Oriental.

Teves has repeatedly denied the allegations against him.

In early February, a Manila Court ordered the cancellation of his passport.

He was expelled by the House of Representatives in August last year for disorderly conduct and continued absence despite an expired travel authority.—AOL, GMA Integrated News