President Marcos on Monday reaffirmed there is no threat to the life of former Representative Arnolfo Teves Jr. as the latter was apprehended in Timor-Leste.
“We have not said, amid all that Teves has said that he fears for his life, we have not received reports of that. Nobody is threatening his life,” the President said in an ambush interview in Bacolod City.
The former representative of the 3rd District of Negros Oriental was previously captured in Dili, East Timor, while playing golf.
He was the alleged mastermind behind the killing of political rival Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and nine others, for which he is currently facing multiple murder charges.
Mr. Marcos said he would ensure fair proceedings on Teves’ cases upon his return to the country.
The Department of Justice previously urged Teves to face the charges against him in the Philippines and not before any international body like the United Nations Human Rights Council.
Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation said it could take as fast as a week to as long as 40 days to have Teves deported from Timor-Leste.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline Marcos says no threat to Teves’ life