OFFICIALS from Timor-Leste want the case of former Negros Oriental congressman Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. to be concluded, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said on Thursday.
“They really want it to be finished properly,” Remulla said in a press briefing. This statement by Remulla comes a day after his courtesy visit to Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta, who mentioned that he had long been invited to the country.
Also present at the meeting were the Timor-Leste Justice Secretary and Chief of Intelligence. They discussed the total ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO), including issues related to crime, regulatory evasion, potential threats to public safety, and Teves’ situation.
According to Remulla, they also discussed concerns about corruption in Timor-Leste. “So we were talking about it that if they allow that to happen, maybe their legacy—these guys are 75, 78 years old, those who fought in the Timor-Leste revolution—maybe their legacy will be lost,” the DOJ secretary said. When asked if he believed Teves could return to the country, Remulla said Timor-Leste did not provide a timeline.
“No timeline was given to us.” Teves was arrested in Timor-Leste in March based on the red notice from the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) issued against him in February.
In June, the Timor-Leste Court of Appeals granted Teves’ request for extradition, accusing him of masterminding the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and others.
“Teves is on the loose, out on bail. Although he is being monitored, of course, we cannot discount that what happened in Negros will happen in Timor-Leste. That’s why we left,” Remulla said.
There has been no response from Teves’ camp regarding this.
