Following the capture of dismissed Bamban City mayor Alice Guo and fugitive Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Apollo Quiboloy, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos on Sunday said the government is now looking forward to gaining custody of former Negros Oriental representative Arnolfo Teves Jr.
Speaking before a crowd in Dubai Sunday evening (Philippine time), Abalos discussed the government’s acquisition of two high-profile fugitives in the past few days—Guo in Tangerang City in Indonesia last Wednesday, and Quiboloy in the KOJC compound in Davao City past 6 p.m. on Sunday.
“Pangatlo hopefully makukuha na rin si Teves. Ito ‘yung pumatay kay Degamo, remember? [Third, hopefully, we will capture Teves. He was the one who killed Degamo, remember?]” he told the Filipino crowd.
Teves is accused of involvement in the assassination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo in 2023, when armed men fired shots while the official was distributing aid at his residence in Pamplona.
He has also been charged with the deaths of three individuals in Negros Oriental in 2019, and has been under the custody of Timor Leste police since March after his arrest based on the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) red notice issued in February.
According to Department of Justice (DOJ) spokesperson and assistant secretary Mico Clavano, the agency is coordinating with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and other agencies, as Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta wants to send Teves back to the Philippines.
Clavano said the DOJ hopes to execute the extradition after Pope Francis visits the country from September 9 to 11.
Timor-Leste in August denied Teves’ motion for reconsideration to reverse the extradition granted against him, after its Court of Appeals granted the Philippines’ request in June to have extradited.
Teves was expelled by the House of Representatives in August 2023 for disorderly conduct and his continued absence despite an expired travel authority. — BM, GMA Integrated News
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