The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday expressed confidence that the extradition request for former Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves, Jr. before Timor-Leste court will be granted anew.
The DOJ clarified the situation after lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, counsel for Teves, claimed on Saturday that the said request was nullified.
“No amount of underhanded tactics will derail our determination to get this fugitive home to face the murder charges. The victims need JUSTICE,” said Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.
He underscored Teves’ camp is attempting to contest the ruling on procedural grounds, specifically questioning the number of judges involved in the decision—”a clear afterthought, raised only after the proceedings had concluded unfavorably for him.”
Remulla added their recent objections only arose after they failed to secure a favorable outcome despite being “fully engaged in the proceedings” and having the “opportunity to present their case.”
In Philippine law, such a move would be barred under the principle of estoppel, which prevents a party from challenging procedural issues if they actively participated in the process and failed to raise objections earlier.
The DOJ said they expect that Teves will face justice in the Philippines soon, given the strong evidence against him in connection with multiple serious charges, including the murder of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.
Meanwhile, Topacio expressed his dissatisfaction with the DOJ’s stand “as it casts aspersions on the judicial system of Timor-Leste.
“No amount of underhanded semantics and spin can hide the fact that the Timor Leste (TL) court nullified the previous decision to allow the extradition of Rep. Arnolfo Teves, and that it was untrue for the [DOJ] to say that the milk nullification thereof was ‘fake news’,” he told Manila Standard.
He added “it was also underhanded to say that the procedural remedies employed by the lawyers of Mr. Teves were flawed, as in fact it was sustained by the proper judicial authority in TL.”
Topacio noted that the “DOJ should stop making excuses for its loss and should refrain from being a fountain of inaccurate announcements.”
