The Timor Leste government has junked the political asylum bid of murder suspect and congressman Arnolfo Teves Jr.
“Today, the Ministry of Interior of Timor Leste confirmed that Rep. Teves’ application for political asylum has been denied,” the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement issued late Tuesday evening.
“In accordance with the decision of the Timor-Leste government, Rep. Teves has been granted a period of five days to depart Timor Leste. During this time, he also has the option to file an appeal regarding the decision,” the DFA added.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Teves entered Timor Leste a week ago.
“We have written a letter telling Timor-Leste that he is a person of interest in murder cases and he is being considered for designation as a terrorist by the country,” Remulla said.
Teves, wanted for three murders in 2019, is also being tagged by the government as the mastermind behind the March 4 killing of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and nine others.
Remulla said the information about Teves was provided by the Philippine ambassador to Timor Leste.
Teves was seen in Timor Leste’s capital city of Dili “where he applied for a protection visa with the intent of asylum.”
In his letter, Remulla told Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo that the DOJ has taken steps to designate Teves as a terrorist under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 and he has already asked the Anti-Terrorism Council to create a technical working group to work on the designation.
“In line with the above-mentioned, it is respectfully requested that these latest updates be relayed to our good Ambassador to Timor Leste,” Remulla said.
Earlier, Remulla said Teves was moving back and forth between South Korea and Cambodia.
The DOJ secretary expressed confidence that Timor Leste’s authorities would deny Teves’ request, saying the latter is being sought not for political crimes.
”There is a special provision in law if that if you want to seek asylum it is usually just for political purposes but we don’t see any reason for him to seek asylum in Timor Leste,’ Remulla said, adding that they have coordinated with their counterparts in other countries to ensure that Manila is fully informed if the suspended lawmaker enters their jurisdiction.
He said Teves’ move to seek asylum in Timor Leste only showed that he is afraid to return to the country and face investigation.
Aside from being implicated in the Degamo killing, Teves is also facing multiple murder charges before the DOJ over the 2019 killing ofvformer Negros Oriental Board Member Miguel Dungog and two others, asvwell as complaints of illegal possession of firearms.
Teves, who refused to return to the country over fears for his safety, has denied any link or involvement in the killing.
His lawyer Ferdinand Topacio declined to comment on the reported bid for asylum.
Earlier, Topacio said they are taking the threats against Teves seriously since these were provided by people who previously told them that his residence will be raided and evidence would be planted.
He said these threats took place long before Degamo was killed in his residence, adding that Teves sounded the alarm as early as December 2022 and January this year.
In a related development, Remulla said the delay in the filing of multiple murder cases against Teves in connection with Degamo’s killing does not mean the DOJ’s case is weak or lacking in evidence against the embattled legislator.
Remulla earlier said the National Bureau of Investigation was expected to file the cases before the DOJ last week.
“We were about to file the cases but a few more details are being ironed out but anytime, it will be filed…. I am asking them if they can speed things up because it’s been more than two months since the murders,” Remulla said in a mix of English and Filipino.
He said they had enough evidence to indict Teves.
Eleven individuals have been charged with multiple murders, and frustrated and attempted murders, including Marvin Miranda, who allegedly organized the actual killing of Degamo.
Remulla also said the prosecutors will “convert” the cases from nine multiple murders to 10 following the death of another victim in the March 4 bloodbath.
On Sunday, the slain governor’s camp announced the death of the 10th victim of the attack, identified as Fredelino Cafe Jr., an employee of the Negros Oriental Provincial Engineering Office.
He died from his injuries more than two months after armed men stormed Degamo’s residence in Pamplona town while he was meeting with his constituents and opened fire, killing the governor and eight others.