Metro Manila, Philippines – The Department of Justice (DOJ) will appeal the Timor-Leste Court of Appeals’ rejection of the Philippines’ request to extradite Arnie Teves, an expelled lawmaker facing murder charges.
Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro on Friday, March 21, said the government was “surprised” at Timor-Leste court’s ruling, a reversal of two previous favorable decisions.
“Ayon po sa DOJ, at nakausap po natin si (Justice Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano), ay mag-aapela po sila, magpa-file po sila ng appeal sa Court of Appeals po ng Timor-Leste,” Castro said.
“Sa pamamagitan po ng appeal na kanilang isasampa, ipapakita po nila na dapat po talagang ma-grant ang extradition,” she added.
[Translation: According to the DOJ, and we talked to (Justice Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano), they will appeal, they will file an appeal in the Court of Appeals of Timor-Leste…Through this appeal, they will show that the extradition should really be granted.]
Castro suspected that a “technicality” issue in Philippine local laws prompted the sudden reversal of Timor-Leste. She did not go into the details of the issue.
In June 2024, the Timor-Leste Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Teves’ extradition and upheld its decision in December when the ex-lawmaker filed his first appeal.
DOJ earlier said the decision raises “serious concern” and that it is seeking further clarification on the basis of the ruling.
Teves is facing multiple murder charges over the killing of former Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and eight others. The government tagged him as a terrorist.
