The Philippine government will arrange to have expelled Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. placed on the “red notice” list of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) once his passport is canceled in connection with warrants of arrest issued against the fugitive lawmaker.
At a press briefing, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Teves’ passport was in the process of cancellation due to the arrest orders against him for multiple murder charges in the March 4 killings of 10 persons, including his political rival, Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.
“Ang kanyang passport po ay in the process of being canceled,” Remulla said, as reported on abogado.ph
Once this is done, the Department of Justice (DOJ) chief said the government would coordinate with the Interpol to seek its assistance to track down the fugitive.
“Ang isa pang winowork out rin namin ngayon ‘yung Interpol red notice,” he said, adding that Teves would also be reported to the Philippine Center for Transnational Crime.
Remulla earlier said the government was communicating with Timor-Leste to have Teves returned to the country in the absence of an extradition treaty.
Teves, who has been designated as a terrorist by the Anti-Terrorism Council, is facing several other charges besides the Degamo murder, including an indictment for three alleged politically-motivated killings in 2019.
According to Remulla, Teves is likely still in Timor-Leste, as he has reportedly sought asylum in the Southeast Asian country.
But he said it was improbable that Teves would be granted asylum, considering the Philippines has opposed it.
metrosundaily
