Arnie Teves now on INTERPOL red notice

Former Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr., the alleged mastermind in the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, has been included in the red notice list of the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla confirmed Wednesday.

According to INTERPOL, a red notice is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action.

INTERPOL clarified that a red notice is not an international arrest warrant.

A document obtained by GMA Integrated News reporter John Consulta showed that the notice was issued on Tuesday.

It said that the country Teves has likely visited is Cambodia.

Authorities previously said that Teves was jumping between Timor-Leste, Cambodia, and Thailand. It was in Timor-Leste where he sought asylum and was rejected.

INTERPOL noted that Teves has a warrant of arrest for murder, frustrated murder, and attempted murder over the March 4 attack against Degamo and others while the governor was distributing aid at his residence in Pamplona, Negros Oriental.

A blue notice was previously issued by INTERPOL against Teves, according to Remulla in May last year.

According to INTERPOL, a blue notice requires member countries to collect additional information about a person’s identity, location, or activities in relation to a criminal investigation.

GMA News Online has sought comment from Teves’ camp but has yet to receive a response as of posting time.

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

Meanwhile, it said that the Anti-Terrorism Council has designated Teves and 12 others as terrorists, citing several alleged killings and harassment in Negros Oriental.

The House of Representatives in mid-August voted to expel Teves for disorderly conduct and his continued absence despite an expired travel authority.

In early February, a Manila Court ordered the cancellation of his passport. —with reports from John Consulta and Saleema Refran/KG, GMA Integrated News