Former Negros Oriental Rep. Arnie Teves is facing a new complaint before the Department of Justice for allegedly financing terrorism and providing material support to terrorists.
This is based on a copy of the subpoena sent to Teves signed last Nov. 14 but only forwarded to the media on Wednesday.
The former lawmaker was directed to attend the preliminary investigation happening today (Thursday) and on Dec. 19.
He was also directed to file a counter-affidavit during the preliminary investigation.
Teves has been designated as a terrorist and leader of an alleged armed group in August.
The ex-solon was also tagged as the mastermind in the killing of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo, with a Manila court already issuing an arrest warrant against the former.
Last month, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said they were working to get the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to issue a “red notice” against Teves, who is believed to be in Timor Leste.
Flying out of the country in late February, Teves has yet to return to face charges lodged against him.
The government has started the process of cancelling the passport of Teves Jr., Remulla said previously.
“If you are a fugitive from justice, your right to travel is impaired basically. Teves’ passport is in the process of being cancelled,” Remulla said.
“You have a limit now on your constitutional right to travel when you are fugitive from justice and you cannot seek from a government for protection if you have a record that you are a fugitive from justice,” he added.
Arrest warrants has already been issued against Teves for multiple murder charges in relation to the March 4, 2023 killings in Pamplona town in Negros Oriental, including Gov. Degamo.
Warrants of arrest have also been issued against Teves for the murder of three persons in 2019—former Negros Oriental board member and former National Bureau of Investigation agent Michael Dungog; Lester Bato, a body guard of Basay mayoralty candidate Cliff Cordova; and Pacito Libron, an alleged hitman associated with Teves.
Teves was also been designated as terrorist by the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC).
Remulla said he believes that Teves is still in Timor-Leste where the expelled legislator has filed an appeal for asylum.
“We don’t think he has a big chance to secure asylum,” he said.
Once Teves’ passport is cancelled, Remulla said the DOJ will work out to place him in the red notice of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol).
He said the name of Teves as a fugitive will also be placed in the records of the Philippine Center for Transnational Crime.
Remulla earlier discussed with Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta the possibility of handing Teves over to the Philippines despite the lack of an extradition treaty.
“I told him that we will be filing the necessary information, the necessary letters, to his office to inform them formally of the charges pending against Mr. Teves,” Remulla said.
“The duties of rendition are there and that under the United Nations agreement on terrorism, there is a duty for member-states to render unto the prosecuting country the body of any terrorist so that he may be held for trial,” he added.
Rendition refers to the transfer of persons from one jurisdiction to another, following prescribed legal proceedings. With Rey Requejo
