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Article (news)

Willard Cheng

Adrian Ayalin

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Justice Undersecretary Margarita Gutierrez on Tuesday reiterated that former congressman Arnolfo Teves Jr. has not been released from detention, saying he has been re-arrested following the process of the Timor-Leste police.The Department of Justice issued a similar statement on Monday night in response to a claim by Teves lawyer Atty. Ferdinand Topacio that he had been freed.“Korek. Hindi siya pinalaya lamang kasi pagkalaya sa kanya, kaagad-agad ay naaresto naman siya. At ngayon ay naka-detain siya with Timor-Leste police,” Gutierrez said on government show Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon. (He was not just freed because, after he was initially released, he was immediately arrested again. So, now, he has been detained by Timor-Leste police)Teves is facing multiple murder, frustrated murder and attempted murder charges for the death of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and others. The Anti-Terrorism Council <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/01/23/teves-tagged-as-terrorist-for-alleged-role-in-degamo-slay">designated him a terrorist last July</a>, authorizing the Anti-Money Laundering Council to freeze his assets.Gutierrez also quoted a news report on the DOJ&#x27;s denial that Teves has been released.She also said the DOJ is confident that the Philippines&#x27; extradition request for Teves will be granted.“Dagdag pa rito, maaari pa ring i-deport ang dating congressman depende sa direksyong ginawa ng gobyerno ng Timor-Leste sa pakikipag-ugnayan sa Pilipinas,” Gutierrez said, reading from the article.(More than that, Timor-Leste may also deport the former congressman, depending on how coordination between it and the Philippines goes.)<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/6/10/lawyer-says-teves-released-in-timor-leste-1726">READ: Teves released, re-arrested in Timor Leste </a></div><div>&#x27;WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS GRANTED&#x27;</div>Meanwhile, Topacio, also insisted the expelled solon was temporarily released from detention Monday when his petition for the issuance of the writ of habeas corpus was granted.“Sinabi po ng order na iyon na iligal yung pag-detain kay Congressman Teves dahil may mga flaws o may pagkukulang ang pamahalaan ng Pilipinas sa paggawa ng extradition request,” Topacio said.(That order said that Teves&#x27; detention was illegal because there were flaws in the Philippines&#x27; extradition request.)Topacio noted that he, along with former Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo and former Commission on Human Rights commissioner Wilhelm Soriano are expected to testify for Teves in the extradition proceedings in Timor-Leste.“We are doing our best for our client and we are confident that the rule of law will prevail sapagkat napakahigpit ng Timor-Leste pagdating sa human rights violations because of their historical experience during their birth as a nation,” Topacio said.After Topacio released a photo of a “released” Teves, the Department of Justice released a photo of him being “re-arrested”.Gutierrez said that extradition proceedings against Teves are still ongoing.

Justice Undersecretary Margarita Gutierrez also said the DOJ is confident that the Philippines' extradition request for Teves will be granted.

Justice Undersecretary Margarita Gutierrez also said the DOJ is confident that the Philippines' extradition request for Teves will be granted.

Justice official reiterates Teves still in Timor-Leste police custody

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Justice official reiterates Teves still in Timor-Leste police custody

Willard Cheng,

Adrian Ayalin,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jun 11, 2024 05:10 PM PHT

|

Updated Jun 12, 2024 01:11 AM PHT

Read More:

Arnolfo Teves Jr.

Ferdinand Topacio

Timor Leste

extradition

DOJ

Department of Justice

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