Teves under court custody, not arrested – lawyer

Expelled congressman Arnolfo Teves Jr. of Negros Oriental was not rearrested as the Department of Justice (DOJ) claimed, but was only placed under the custody of the court in TimorLeste to wait for hearings concerning his extradition, lawyer Ferdinand Topacio said yesterday.

- DAPHNE GALVEZ

Topacio earlier said Teves, the accused mastermind in the assassination of Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo, was released from Becora Prison in Dili.

He said Teves' release came after the court found his detention "illegal" since the Philippines' request for extradition "was made out of time and in a manner that is not sanctioned by practice and customary international law."

The DOJ disputed Topacio's claim, saying leves' release was "part of the country's process" and that the former congressman was rearrested and taken into custody by the Polícia Nacional of Timor-Leste (PNTL) to stand trial for extradition.

“He was not rearrested. This is not an arrest in the strictest sense of the word. He was placed under the custody of the court to ensure that he will be attending the (extradition) proceedings,” Topacio told journalists yesterday.

He said Teves’ release coincided with the first hearing on his extradition.