Update on Arnie Teves Jr. Case Who Is Now in Timor-Leste
ARNIE TEVES JR – The Court of Appeals in Dili, Timor Leste ordered the former Negros Oriental Representative to be under a house arrest.
Since the death of the late former Governor Roel Degamo in 2023, former Negros Oriental 3rd District Representative Arnolfo Teves has yet to return to the Philippines. He is currently in Timor-Leste. Recently, the Department of Justice confirmed Teves was released and re-arrested in Timor-Leste.
Teves is the main suspect in the death of the late former Governor Roel Degamo. The Teves’ and the Degamos are political rivals in Negros Oriental. Degamo ousted the brother of Teves, Pryde Henry Teves, in the gubernatorial position.
On his part, Arnie Teves Jr. maintains his innocence on the death of the late former Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo. He revealed his stand in the videos he posted online after he was tagged as the suspect in the death of the Governor.
Teves was already in abroad when he was identified as one of the suspects in the case. The wife of the Governor, Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo, is determined to seek justice over the death of her husband. He was attacked by the unidentified men in their house in Pamplona.
Following the recent re-arrest of former Negros Oriental 3rd District Representative Arnie Teves Jr., the Court of Appeals in Dili, Timor-Leste wants a house arrest for the Filipino politician. The Court said that he remains a “flight risk”.
Based on a report on GMA News, the Court noted the cases against Teves as well as his arrival in Timor-Leste via a private plane in April 2023. Furthermore, the Court also noted that the Filipino politician lives in a rented house with $10,000 monthly rent with his wife and two (2) children,
Based on the order of the Court, Teves also paid 20 employees, 10 of which were Filipinos while 10 were Timorese. It also highlighted that he is a partner of a construction company owned by someone who also supports Teves financially.
“Given the facts above, it is concluded that the risk of flight persists for the extraditee, especially since he has the financial means to leave Timor-Leste,” the CA stated.
Based on the report, Arnie Teves Jr.’s lawyer Ferdinand Topacio previously claimed that the politician is under a house arrest but not because he was found to be a flight risk. The lawyer said that the presence of the guards was simply to ensure his attendance to the hearings.