DILI/MANILA — Former congressman Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. was arrested on the evening of May 27 at his residence in Dili, Timor-Leste, by local police and immigration officers. The arrest occurred despite a prior ruling by Timor-Leste’s Court of Appeal in March that blocked his extradition to the Philippines and permitted him to remain in the country.

Teves is the primary suspect in the assassination of then-Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and nine others during the Pamplona massacre on March 4, 2023. He faces multiple charges, including murder, frustrated murder, and attempted murder.

In a press conference, Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta defended the detention, emphasizing national security concerns. He stated, “Regardless of all legal and constitutional considerations, there is one principle that all countries in the world observe: the national interest. The national interest is what dictates and determines decisions, and in this case, we are not interested in someone of that nature. This is to prevent East Timor from becoming a haven for those who commit crimes in the region.”

A video posted on Facebook by his son, Axl Teves, shows the former legislator being forcibly removed from his Dili residence by individuals believed to be Timorese police and immigration officials. Axl claimed, “They just picked him up without documents, without warrants or any form of legal documents. They just came in forcefully, took him out forcefully.”

Ferdinand Topacio, one of Teves’ legal representatives in the Philippines, confirmed the arrest and said that no warrant or written authority was shown to Teves or his Timorese counsel, Joao Serra. He also claimed both men sustained minor injuries during the apprehension. The two are reportedly being held within the Ministry of the Interior compound.

The arrest also comes amid Timor-Leste’s active push for full membership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), where the Philippines is a key supporter of Dili’s application. Observers note that Manila’s backing could be crucial, and this latest move may signal Timor-Leste’s intent to demonstrate alignment with regional norms on justice and security.

The Philippine Department of Justice (DOJ) acknowledged the detention but said it had not received any official communication from Timor-Leste regarding the arrest. “There are indications by Timor-Leste that Mr. Teves should not remain in their territory,” the DOJ said in a statement. The DOJ also noted that it has initiated extradition proceedings for Teves to face multiple murder charges in the Philippines. “We emphasize that the Philippine government has not been furnished with any legal or official document on the matter,” the statement said.

Despite this, the DOJ welcomed recent pronouncements from Timor-Leste, which appeared to reverse an earlier Court of Appeal decision that favored Teves remaining in the country. “While we welcome the recent pronouncements from Timor-Leste indicating a renewed position that Mr. Teves should not remain in their territory, we await their action—whether he would simply be deported for being an undocumented foreigner or extradited forthwith pursuant to our pending application,” the DOJ said.

“We remain ready and committed to bring Mr. Teves to justice in accordance with the rule of law and the principles of international cooperation,” it added.

📷 Screengrab from Axl Teves