Camille Naredo

Former Negros Oriental Rep Arnolfo Teves after he was arrested by Timor-Leste authorities. Photo courtesy NBI/File

Former Negros Oriental Rep Arnolfo Teves after he was arrested by Timor-Leste authorities. The NBI team was allowed by Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta to talk to Teves while he is still being processed.  Photo courtesy NBI

Article (news)

TEVES

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/174098493926520240322-teves-arnolfo-timor-HO-1.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Former Negros Oriental Rep Arnolfo Teves after he was arrested by Timor-Leste authorities. Photo courtesy NBI/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Former Negros Oriental Rep Arnolfo Teves after he was arrested by Timor-Leste authorities. <em>Photo courtesy NBI/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- The extradition of former Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. is taking time due to Timor-Leste&#x27;s &quot;very young judicial system,&quot; Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said on Monday.</p><p>Teves —  who is wanted for the killing of late Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo — has been staying in Timor-Leste since March 2024, but he has yet to return to the Philippines due to pending appeals cases he filed in local courts there.</p><p>&quot;The appeal process in Timor-Leste seems to be endless, but we will get the news very soon,&quot; Remulla told reporters when asked for an update about Teves&#x27; case.</p><p>&quot;They have a very young judicial system, it is not yet mature. We do not really know the limits… They are still figuring out a way to make the justice system as sophisticated as ours,&quot; he said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/12/6/doj-hopes-timor-leste-will-uphold-teves-extradition-1302">READ: DOJ hopeful Timor-Leste will uphold its decision to extradite Teves</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/8/teves-still-in-timor-leste-awaiting-outcome-of-extradition-appeal-lawyer-1657">READ: Teves still in Timor Leste, awaiting outcome of extradition appeal -- lawyer</a></div><p>Timor-Leste, a southeast Asian country earlier under the control of Portugal and Indonesia, only gained its independence in 2002.</p><p>The 22-year old republic has yet to form its Supreme Court, and has been tasking its Court of Appeals to bear the functions of a high court for the meantime.</p><p>&quot;I have had word with Mr. [Jose] Ramos-Horta and he wanted to learn from us on how the justice system should be ran,&quot; Remulla said, referring to Timor-Leste&#x27;s President.</p><p>For now, the Philippines government will &quot;just persist&quot; until Teves is extradited for his crimes, the DOJ chief said.</p><p>&quot;We just persist, we don&#x27;t stop and we follow up. If I have to come back there, I will go back to speak to the leadership of Timor-Leste,&quot; he said.</p><p>In 2023, the Philippine government declared Teves and several others as terrorists, and vowed that it would exhaust legal remedies to bring him back to the country.</p><p>In February, Teves&#x27; legal counsel confirmed that the former lawmaker is still in the Timorese capital of Dili and is awaiting the decision on his appeal against his extradition.</p><div><strong>FROM THE ARCHIVES:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xwYgkcS3bbk?&amp;t=40s&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The extradition of former Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. is taking time due to Timor-Leste's "very young judicial system," Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said on Monday.</p>

The extradition of former Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. is taking time due to Timor-Leste's "very young judicial system," Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said on Monday.

DOJ: Teves extradition taking time due to Timor-Leste's 'very young judicial system'

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DOJ: Teves extradition taking time due to Timor-Leste's 'very young judicial system'

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Mar 03, 2025 03:01 PM PHT

Read More:

Arnolfo Teves

Boying Remulla

Jesus Crispin Remulla

Timor-Leste

Department of Justice

DOJ

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