Petition Filed Challenging Arnolfo Teves Arrest Detention in Timor-Leste
The lawyer representing expelled Negros Oriental congressman Arnolfo A. Teves Jr. in the Philippines revealed that Teves has formally filed a petition before a Timor-Leste court challenging his arrest and detention. According to sources familiar with the matter, Teves’s legal team has requested the issuance of a writ of habeas corpus, which serves as a universal safeguard for individuals unlawfully deprived of their liberty.
The legal counsel explained that if Teves’s detention is based solely on deportation grounds—since his passport was canceled, making him an undocumented alien—then Timor-Leste authorities must clarify the legal basis for such deportation. The petition also highlights that the Timor-Leste court has twice rejected the Philippine government’s extradition requests for Teves.
Legal Challenges and Asylum Request in Timor-Leste
Further complicating the case, the Philippine government filed a constitutional challenge after the second extradition denial, but this too was dismissed by the Timor-Leste court recently. Teves is also seeking political asylum in Timor-Leste. His counsel emphasized that, under international law, an asylum seeker should not be forcibly removed from the country where they seek protection.
“So, sa amin po, from the point of view of general provisions of international law, highly irregular din po ang pag-aresto sa kanya if the purpose of that arrest is to deport him,” the lawyer stated, underscoring that if deportation is the goal behind Teves’s arrest, it would violate international legal principles.
Details Surrounding Teves’s Arrest and Detention
Earlier reports confirmed that Teves was arrested by immigration police in Timor-Leste around 8 p.m. local time while at his residence in Dili. Alongside him was his Timor-Leste legal counsel. Both are currently detained within the Ministry of the Interior compound, where Teves has also been joined by an additional lawyer.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Department of Justice announced it is prepared to arrange for Teves’s transfer back to the Philippines once the situation is clarified. They stressed readiness to expedite his custody transfer as soon as proper protocols are established.
Background on Charges and Legal Status
Teves has been designated a terrorist by the Anti-Terrorism Council and faces multiple charges tied to the March 4, 2023 shooting in Pamplona, Negros Oriental. This incident led to the deaths of Governor Roel Degamo and nine others. A Manila Regional Trial Court issued a warrant for his arrest connected to this case in 2024.
The Department of Foreign Affairs revoked Teves’s passport following the court order, which rendered him an undocumented alien in Timor-Leste. Before the shooting incident, Teves had left for the United States and had not returned. Due to his prolonged absence without authorization, the House of Representatives expelled him from his congressional seat.
After his expulsion, Teves traveled to Timor-Leste to seek asylum, marking a significant development in this ongoing legal and political saga.
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