Former Negros Oriental Third District Representative Arnolfo Teves, Jr. has been brought back to the Philippines from Timor-Leste where he was arrested while seeking asylum.
The plane that was transporting him made a stopover in Davao reportedly to refuel before proceeding to Manila on Thursday, May 29, 2025.
President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. confirmed Teves' return in a video released by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).
"The former representative, Representive Arnie Teves, is now back in the Philippines. I was first informed of this development by Prime Minister Gusmão during the ASEAN meeting that I just returned from in Kuala Lumpur, and that Timor-Leste was ready to send Teves back to the Philippines," the President said.
Teves is facing charges of murder and other crimes related to the killing of former Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and nine others in 2023.
While on the plane, Teves was wearing a bulletproof vest and was handcuffed.
Before landing in the Philippines, he was read his Miranda Rights.
"You are under arrest by virtue of the warrant of arrest issued by the Manila court on September 2023 for 10 counts of murder, 12 counts of frustrated murder, four counts of attempted murder. In addition to that, in 2024, a warrant of arrest was also issued against you by the Dumaguete court for murder, for illegal possession of explosives, for illegal possesion of firearms, and for the Terrorism Financing, Prevention, and Suppression Act," a law enforcement officer told Teves.
Teves was also informed that he has the right to remain silent, that whatever he says may be used against him in court, that he has a right to counsel, and that the government may provide him a lawyer if cannot afford to get the services of one.
From the Villamor Air Base where the plane landed in Manila, he was brought straight to the headquarters of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). Photos from the NBI showed he underwent a booking procedure and medical examination.
His mother, as well as his lawyer, Ferdinand Topacio, arrived later at the headquarters.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) in the Philippines said earlier that the Timor-Leste government would deport Teves as he has been in the country without a valid visa and legal authorization to stay.
The DOJ said the administrative deportation decision includes a 10-year ban on re-entry and is grounded in Timor-Leste’s domestic laws on migration and asylum as well as “respect for the principles of international cooperation and ASEAN solidarity.”
“The Government of Timor-Leste emphasized that harboring fugitives undermines efforts to combat transnational crime and disrupts diplomatic relations between sovereign states,” the DOJ said.
Read related story: https://www.gmanetwork.com/regionaltv/news/108367/teves-deported-from-timorleste/story/
Teves and others have also been charged with the alleged killings of three individuals in Negros Oriental in 2019.
He and 12 others have also been designated as terrorists by the Anti-Terrorism Council, citing several alleged killings and harassment in Negros Oriental.
In August 2024, he was expelled by the House of Representatives for disorderly conduct and continued absence.
