Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio on Saturday said the extradition request for former Negros Oriental lawmaker Arnolfo Teves Jr. was nullified by the Timor-Leste Supreme court – a claim that was immediately debunked by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla as “fake news.”
“Very clearly it was stated, contrary to what the DOJ is saying, that there will be no extradition because it has been invalidated. The request of the Philippines to extradite Congressman Teves has been nullified,” Topacio said.
Remulla, however, denied Topacio’s claim.
“There is no Supreme Court in Timor-Leste,” as claimed by Topacio, the DOJ said, adding that the highest court there is the Court of Appeals.
Remulla earlier announced that arrangements are being made with the Philippine Air Force (PAF) for the “imminent” repatriation of Teves.
“Teves is coming home very soon. And our expectation is that it will happen within the month,” Remulla said.
Teves is facing 10 counts of murder, 12 counts of frustrated murder, and four counts of attempted murder before the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 51 over the March 4, 2023 shootings in Pamplona, Negros Oriental that led to the killing of Gov. Roel Degamo and several others.
He fled to Dili, Timor-Leste where he applied for political asylum but was arrested in March this year while playing golf and subsequently placed under house arrest.
On June 27, the DOJ said the Court of Appeals of Timor-Leste granted the Philippines’ request for Teves’ extradition.
Teves filed an appeal on the ruling, but the Timor-Leste government turned it down.
