Teves arrested in Timor-Leste

Degamo widow says it's a significant step toward justice

- By JEFFREY DAMICOG, GLAZYL MASCULINO, and ELLSON QUISMORIO

Former Negros Oriental 3rd District congressman Arnolfo A. Teves Jr. has been arrested by immigration police in Timor-Leste, a development welcomed by Negros Oriental congresswoman-elect and Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo.

“At around 8 p.m. yesterday (Wednesday, Dili time), our client, Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr., was taken from his residence in Dili together with his Timor Leste counsel, Dr. Joao Serra, by immigration police,” lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, Teves' lawyer, confirmed.

Teves and Serra are now detained inside the compound of the Ministry of the Interior where Teves has been accompanied by another counsel, he also said.

“No warrant or any written authority was shown to Mr. Teves and Dr. Serra as to the cause of detention,” Topacio said.

Teves, who has been designated as a terrorist by the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC), is facing multiple charges, including the March 4, 2023 shooting in Pamplona, Negros Oriental that resulted in the deaths of Gov.

Roel Degamo and nine other persons.

Mayor Janice Degamo is the widow of Gov. Degamo The Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 51 issued in 2024 a warrant for Teves' arrest in connection with the Pamplona shootings.Teves denied perpetrating the Pamplona shooting.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) also cancelled the passport of Teves upon the order of the RTC which makes the former legislator an undocumented alien in Timor-Leste.

Prior to the Pamplona incident, Teves left for the United States and has not returned since then.