The government of Timor-Leste on Wednesday announced it will deport expelled former Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo ‘Arnie’ Teves Jr. following the latter’s arrest in the capital city of Dili.
“The Government hereby informs that Arnolfo Teves Jr. will be deported from Timor-Leste by administrative decision of the Ministry of the Interior, as he is in the country without a valid visa, lacking legal authorization to remain, and holding a passport that the Government of the Philippines has cancelled,” Timor-Leste said in a statement.
“The decision, which takes effect immediately, is based on national legislation regarding migration and asylum and is grounded in the risks that this citizen’s continued presence poses to public order and national security,” it added.
The Timorese government likewise cited the country’s full accession to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) scheduled for October, which it said further reinforces its responsibility “to actively collaborate with its regional partners in upholding justice, legality, and stability in the region.”
The Department of Justice (DOJ) earlier said it is not yet clear whether Teves “would simply be deported for being an undocumented foreigner or extradited forthwith pursuant to our pending application.”
The Justice Department, however, said it is ready to arrange the transfer of custody by the “most expeditious means” once the issue has been clarified: “While we welcome the recent pronouncements from Timor-Leste indicating a renewed position that Mr. Teves should not remain in their territory, we await their action.:
In a separate interview with Manila Standard, lawyer Ferdinand Topacio said Teves is currently being detained at the Ministry of the Interior together with his Timor-Leste legal counsel, Dr. Joao Serra.
Teves is facing multiple murder cases before the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 51 in relation to the killing of slain Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo and several others.
Later, he applied for political asylum in Timor-Leste but was eventually placed under house arrest.
