After more than two years on the run, former Negros Oriental 3rd District Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. is finally heading back to the Philippines to face a long list of serious criminal charges, including his alleged involvement in the high-profile assassination of Governor Roel Degamo.
Teves was placed aboard a Philippine Air Force (PAF) aircraft Thursday afternoon following his deportation from Timor-Leste, where he had been hiding since 2023. Radio reporter RH 29 Boy Gonzales confirmed that Teves is currently aboard a chartered PAF plane with tail number 142. While the typical flight time from Timor-Leste to the Philippines takes 9 to 10 hours, the use of military aircraft is expected to cut that time to just three to four hours, placing his expected arrival between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m.
His legal counsel, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, stated that Teves will be brought to Manila for formal processing. The military flight is expected to make a brief stopover at Davao International Airport to refuel before proceeding to its final destination.
As a military aircraft, the PAF plane is granted landing clearance at any airport in the country, allowing for flexible routing.
The deportation comes just one day after the government of Timor-Leste officially declared Teves’ presence in their territory as “a serious and unacceptable situation,” citing his status as a fugitive from Philippine justice. The decision to expel him underscores the increasing international pressure surrounding the case.
Teves, once a sitting congressman, was accused of masterminding the March 4, 2023, brazen attack on Governor Roel Degamo, who was gunned down in broad daylight at his residence in Pamplona, Negros Oriental. The killing shocked the nation and sparked public outcry. Several suspects were arrested shortly after the ambush and reportedly pointed to Teves as the mastermind behind the attack.
In addition to murder, Teves also faces charges related to terrorism, illegal possession of firearms, and other criminal activities linked to a so-called “Teves Group,” which authorities describe as a powerful private armed network that operated with impunity in Negros Oriental for years.
The Department of Justice previously revoked Teves’ travel privileges and initiated proceedings to have him designated a terrorist under the Anti-Terrorism Act—a rare move for a public official. Despite repeated denials of involvement and multiple appeals for asylum in Timor-Leste, Teves failed to gain refugee status and was ultimately ordered to leave.
Now in custody and on his way back to Philippine soil, Teves is expected to be met by a battery of legal charges and tight security upon arrival.
His return marks a pivotal moment in one of the country’s most closely watched political crime sagas in recent history.
