Jamaine Punzalan

Embattled Negros Oriental Third District Rep. Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr. ABS-CBN News/File

Article (news)

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/17485011896891831-tvp-teves-vo-vivienne.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Embattled Negros Oriental Third District Rep. Arnolfo &quot;Arnie&quot; Teves Jr. ABS-CBN News/File </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA <strong>(UPDATED)</strong> — Former congressman Arnolfo Teves was deported from Timor Leste on Thursday, some two years after he was tagged as the alleged mastermind of a March 2023 attack that killed then-Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo and nine others.</p><p>A Philippine Air Force plane carrying Teves left Timor-Leste at around 2:42 p.m. </p><p>Teves was detained at a driving range in Dili last year, but a Timorese court blocked his extradition.</p><p>In an abrupt turnaround, Timor-Leste late on Wednesday announced Teves&#x27; impending deportation, saying his continued presence represented a security risk.</p><p>&quot;The Government hereby informs that Arnolfo Teves Jr. will be deported from Timor-Leste,&quot; it said in a statement, using the country&#x27;s alternate name.</p><p>It added that Timor-Leste’s &quot;imminent full accession&quot; to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) had reinforced its responsibility to collaborate regionally on legal matters.</p><p>Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez said upon arrival in the Philippines, Teves will be put under the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Bureau of Immigration (BI).</p><p>He will also be treated as a normal person deprived of liberty, and will undergo normal booking procedures.</p><p>Teves has denied any hand in the murder of Degamo.</p><p>Degamo had been distributing aid at his home in Pamplona when six people carrying rifles and dressed in military fatigues entered the compound and opened fire on March 4, 2023.</p><p>The killings came months after Degamo was declared winner of a disputed vote, unseating Henry Teves, the ex-lawmaker&#x27;s brother.</p><p>Arnolfo Teves was expelled from the House of Representatives after refusing to return to the Philippines to face murder charges.</p><p>On Wednesday, Teves&#x27; son Axl posted videos on social media of his father being dragged away by Timorese police, claiming he had been &quot;kidnapped&quot;.</p><p>Degamo&#x27;s widow Pamplona mayor Janice called the arrest a &quot;significant step toward justice&quot;.</p><div><em>More details to follow. </em></div><div><strong>— With reports from Bianca Dava, ABS-CBN News; Agence France-Presse </strong></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>— With reports from Bianca Dava, ABS-CBN News; Agence France-Presse </strong></div>

<p>A Manila-bound plane carrying former congressman Arnolfo Teves left Timor-Leste on Thursday afternoon, some two years after he was tagged as the alleged mastermind of a March 2023 attack that killed then-Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo and nine others.</p>

A Manila-bound plane carrying former congressman Arnolfo Teves left Timor-Leste on Thursday afternoon, some two years after he was tagged as the alleged mastermind of a March 2023 attack that killed then-Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo and nine others.

Teves deported from Timor-Leste

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Nation

Teves deported from Timor-Leste

ABS-CBN News

Published May 29, 2025 02:48 PM PHT

|

Updated May 29, 2025 06:23 PM PHT

Read More:

Teves

Arnolfo Teves

Arnie Teves

ABSNews

ANC promo

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

Sign Up

I have read and agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.