THE camp of former Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo Teves Jr. has filed a petition for habeas corpus challenging his arrest in Timor Leste.
In a press conference, Teves' legal counsel Ferdinand Topacio said they are questioning the legality of the former lawmaker’s arrest.
“Kung iga-grant po 'yung writ, dadalhin po sa hukuman si Ginoong Teves at doon po ay kailangang makumbinsi ng mga authorities na umaresto kay Ginoong Teves kung bakit siya inaresto… at kung siya ay ide-deport, what will be the basis for his deportation,” said Topacio.
(If the writ is granted, Mr. Teves will be brought to court, and there the authorities who arrested Mr. Teves will have to convince the court why he was arrested… and if he is to be deported, what will be the basis for his deportation?)
In a Facebook post Wednesday morning, May 28, Teves’ son Axl said immigration police trooped to their residence and forcibly took the former congressman “without any form of documents.”
Topacio said Teves is currently detained at the Ministry of Interior in Timor-Leste.
Teves is facing murder and frustrated murder in a Philippine court in relation to the killing of then Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo, along with several others on March 4, 2023.
He is also facing murder charges in relation to the killing of three individuals in the province in 2019 including Miguel Dungog, a former board member of Negros Oriental.
Teves was arrested in March 2024 over an Interpol red notice requested by the Department of Justice.
He sought asylum in Timor Leste.
The Timor-Leste Court of Appeals (CA) earlier rejected the request of the Philippine Government for the extradition of Teves.
“The basis for the denial are three. Number one, that there is great danger to his life and him. Number two, that he may be forced to undergo torture and other inhuman punishment. And number three, maaaring mag-undergo siya ng mga proceedings na maaaring magdulot ng injustice sa kanya,” Topacio said.
“We have always been prepared (for his extradition). What will happen if he is repatriated is that the courts where there are pending charges against him will acquire jurisdiction over him, and then we will defend him as his defense attorneys to the best of our ability. And we are confident that with the recantations of all the witnesses against him that the government has a very weak case. So we are ready. Anytime,” he added. (TPM/SunStar Philippines)