Former Negros Oriental 3rd District Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. was arrested in Timor-Leste where he sought asylum.
Based on the Facebook post of Teves’ son Axl early Wednesday, the former lawmaker was nabbed by immigration officers in Timor-Leste, Unang Balita reported.
Allegedly, no warrant or any other document was shown prior to the arrest.
Based on a report by local media hatutan.com, Teves was nabbed and placed under the custody of Timor-Leste immigration police.
Teves was allegedly the mastermind in the killing of former Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo and nine others on March 4, 2023 in the Degamo residence in Pamplona, Negros Oriental.
The former lawmaker has denied the accusation.
GMA News Online contacted the Department of Justice for comment but has yet to receive a reply as of posting time.
GMA Integrated News also contacted the Bureau of Immigration for comment.
Teves’ lawyer Atty. Ferdinand Topacio told GMA Integrated News that Teves was taken by immigration police from his home in Dili.
“At around 8 p.m. yesterday (Dili time), our client, Rep. Armolfo Teves, was taken from his residence in Dili together with his Timor Leste counsel, Dr. Joao Serra, by immigration police. The lawyer was manhandled by the said police,” Topacio said.
He said Teves and Serra have since been detained in the compound of the Ministry of the Interior.
“No warrant or any written authority was shown to Mr. Teves and Dr. Serra as to the cause of detention,” Topacio said.
“We are held against our will. They are not letting me go,” Teves said in a video posted by Axl on Facebook. —with a report from Joahna Lei Casilao/KG, GMA Integrated News
