Expelled lawmaker Arnolfo Teves Jr. attends a press conference at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Headquarters in Pasay City on May 20, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — A Palace official called the extraction of former Negros Oriental congressman Arnulfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. “peaceful” and “successful”.

Presidential Communications Office Assistant Secretary Erel Cabatbat, who was included in the Philippine team that repatriated the former lawmaker, recounted the challenges they faced along the way.

He noted that they arrived in Cebu at 2 a.m. Thursday to fetch another member of the extraction team and flew to Davao at 3:14 a.m. for refueling.

“Pero hindi po kaagad kami nakaalis kasi 6:35 po ng a.m. doon lang po namin na-receive o natanggap ang clearance na puwede pong bumaba ang ating eroplano sa Dili, Timor-Leste. Mayroon na po kasing verbal agreement, pero in-insist po ng ating mga piloto na dapat mayroon talagang nakasulat na clearance para hindi po magkagulo,” he said in a Palace press briefing Friday. 

They arrived at the Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport in Dili, Timor-Lester at 1:11 p.m. where Teves was formally turned over, according to Cabatbat.

“May initial na pong usapan na pagdating po doon ay ibibigay sa atin kaagad si Representative Teves, pero may kaunting changes lamang po. Pero sa kabila po nito naging maayos po iyong turnover, nagpirmahan lang po ng ilang dokumento at noong maayos na po iyong dokumento, inilabas po si former Rep. Teves na nakaposas po at naka … may ano po siya, naka-shackle po pati mga paa niya,” he added.

The Palace executive also recalled some of the former lawmaker’s requests.

“May request po si dating mambabatas Teves na kung puwede daw po ay huwag na sana siyang posasan kasi nga po masakit na daw ang kaniyang mga kamay. At sinabi pa rin niya na pabiro po na ‘saan naman daw siya pupunta, hindi naman daw siya gagawa ng anumang gulo.’ Pero hindi po ito pinagbigyan kasi nasa protocol pa rin po,” he stated.

He also took note of the difficulties during the flight due to weather disturbances.

“Medyo challenging po iyong biyahe pabalik kasi paglabas po ng Indonesian air space, maayos ang weather, pero pagpasok po ng Pilipinas, malakas po ang ulan at medyo matagtag po ang biyahe. Sa kabila po niyan, 7:27 po kagabi nakalapag po kami sa Davao,” Cabatbat recounted.

The president was also monitoring the developments as they happen, according to the Palace official.

“Siya po ay nakabantay, nakaantabay sa development po. Ang alam ko po, bago pa lang po kami mag-briefing, bago umalis ay namo-monitor at napapaalam po kay Pangulo ang nangyayari,” Cabatbat said.

“Tapos noong nakarating na kami rito sa Davao pa lang ay inabisuhan din kaagad ang ating Pangulo, the moment na nag-land po iyong eroplano,” he added.

Cabatbat said he was not privy to the discussions and arrangements between the two governments but noted that Marcos Jr.’s coordination with the top Timorese officials helped in Teves’ deportation.

“Masasabi po natin na naging matagal, frustrating to some degree at marami po ang nagagalit, marami pong naiinis, pero hindi po ito tinantanan ng ating mga kinatawan ng DOJ, ng NBI at ng Bureau of Immigration. Sinasabi nga po natin, naging mabagal ang proseso, pero noong nabigyan po tayo ng pagkakataon para maipatupad ang ating batas ay ginrab (grab) po natin ito, with both hands and we never let go,” he said.

When asked about the expenses in repatriating Teves, Cabatbat initially deferred to the justice department but later on noted that only the fuel cost for the Philippine Air Force plane was spent by the Philippine government.