A Timorese court has denied the Philippine government’s request to extradite expelled lawmaker Arnolfo Teves Jr., a decision the Department of Justice (DOJ) called “peculiar and legally improbable.”
The March 20 ruling by Timor-Leste’s Court of Appeals unanimously granted Teves’ appeal, citing Article 35(3) of the country’s constitution, which prohibits extradition if there is a “well-founded risk of being subjected to torture, inhuman, degrading or cruel treatment.”
The DOJ, which has yet to receive an official copy of the decision, expressed disappointment and concern over the reversal.
“It is peculiar that after having twice decided in favor of extradition — first in June 2024 and again in December 2024 — the Timor-Leste Court of Appeals has now reversed its stance, taking a complete 180-degree turn to reject the Philippines’ extradition request,” the DOJ stated.
Teves is accused of masterminding the March 2023 killing of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and faces multiple charges, including murder, frustrated murder, and attempted murder. Despite being expelled from Congress in August 2023 for ignoring summons, he remained abroad until his arrest in Dili on March 21, 2024.
The DOJ vowed to “explore and exhaust all legal remedies” to ensure Teves is brought back to the Philippines to face justice. “Allowing him to evade justice would be the height of injustice,” it added.
