The Department of Justice said there is no timetable yet on the repatriation of former Negros Oriental congressman Arnolfo Teves, Jr. from Timor-Leste for his trial for multiple murder, frustrated murder and attempted murder cases before a Manila court.

DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano said officials of the National Bureau of Investigation are in Timor-Leste coordinating with local authorities to safely bring back Teves to the Philippines.

Teves was arrested by Timor-Leste authorities Thursday at 4 p.m. while playing golf at Dili Top Golf Driving Range and Bar.  

“Yung pinaka-priority po ni Sec. Remulla ngayon yung kaligtasan po ni Ginoong Teves, alam po natin na napakalaking kaso nito and we just want to make sure that he stands trial safe and sound,” Clavano said.

The DOJ also explained that there are two modes to bring back Teves to the country, namely, deportation and extradition.

While the Philippines has no extradition treaty with Timor-Leste, extradition provisions are included in the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.

“Kung sa extradition po kasi, magiging international obligation yon it means that it will take some time dahil may mga documents pa iyon na kailangan ipadala sa Timor Leste such as the warrant of arrest, yung investigation sheet dito sa Pilipinas,” Clavano said.

(Extradition is an international obligation. It means it will take some time because there are documents that need to be sent to Timor-Leste, such as the warrant of arrest and the investigation sheet.)

Deportation may be faster, considering Teves' passport was cancelled by the Department of Foreign Affairs as ordered by the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 51.

“So, if we choose that route, deportation, the timing wild be up to them pero kung extradition,  [it] will take some time,” Clavano said.

The DOJ added that as soon as Teves is back, he will have to face the court and undergo arraignment proceedings.

“Ss soon as Mr. Teves is back we can expect the courts to unarchive the cases para ma-arraign na po si Ginoong Teves (so he could be arraigned),” Clavano said.

The DOJ also noted that the asylum request of Teves was denied twice by the Timor-Leste government.

“There is no obstacle when it comes to the asylum request anymore of Mr Teves,” Clavano said.

WHAT TEVES CAMP SAYS

Teves' lawyer Ferdinand Topacio said the former lawmaker was arrested under Timor-Leste's laws.

Teves "will be turned over to the court for a twenty-day trial in which evidence may be adduced on this behalf in order to determine what will be done relative to any request of the Marcos government," Topacio said in a statement. 

The lawyer added that Teves' arrest "is not indicative of his guilt in any case in the Philippines, nor was it because of violation of any law of TL (Timor-Leste), but simply because of the mechanisms inherent in the system of the Interpol."

"Therefore, any references as to terrorism, criminal acts or any other inferences committed by Rep. Teves, or any implication that he is already guilty thereof, is not only premature but injudicious and ignorant as well," he said.  

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said it was coordinating with the DOJ on Teves' possible return to the country.

"Usually, we use the venue of the Interpol as mode. But yun nga antayin muna natin kung ano ang magiging resulta ng coordination between DOJ and DFA," PNP Chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. said in a press briefing. 

(We have to wait for the results of the coordination between the DOJ and the Department of Foreign Affairs.)

-- With a report from Raya Capulong, ABS-CBN News