ARRESTED former Negros Oriental representative Arnolfo ‘Arnie’ Teves will most likely to be detained in Camp Crame in Quezon City or the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) detention center in Muntinlupa City, said the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Justice Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Atty. Mico Clavano disclosed the potential detention center for Teves as he stressed the importance of ensuring his safety upon his return.
While other detention facilities are also under consideration, Clavano said Camp Crame and the NBI Detention Center are currently the primary options.
“The priority is his safety, but the specific location is not yet confirmed. Options such as Camp Crame and the NBI Detention Center are being considered,” Clavano told reporters.
He also revealed that the most viable and expeditious method to repatriate Teves from Timor-Leste to the Philippines is to pursue deportation instead of extradition.
He explained that in extradition, the Philippine government will need to submit a request and engage in further government-to-government discussions with Timor-Leste to lay out the process.
It will likewise depend on the rules of court in Timor-Leste and its extradition procedures, he said.
The deportation process will be swifter, said Clavano, noting the prior cancellation of Teves’ passport. However, he said the timeline hinges on the bureaucratic procedures of Timor-Leste.
“In terms of deportation, it could proceed swiftly because he no longer holds a valid passport. However, the timing would be subject to the protocols of Timor-Leste. Just as in the Philippines, when we deport a foreign national, we dictate the timing, right? It’s similar there. So, if deportation is the chosen route, the timing will be at their discretion,” he explained.
Clavano couldn’t offer a specific timeline, though, for Teves’ return to the country.
But he said that once Teves has been returned, the pending court cases against him would be unarchived, and he would be arraigned.
Teves has been arrested in Timor-Leste for his alleged involvement in the killing of provincial governor Roel Degamo and several others.
