THE Court of Appeals of Timor-Leste has upheld its decision to grant the Philippine government's request for the extradition of former Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo Teves Jr., the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Wednesday, August 28.

Teves' motion for reconsideration was denied, reaffirming the court's earlier ruling for his extradition to the Philippines.

The DOJ's announcement came after Timor-Leste's Prosecutor General provided an update on the appeal, which was dismissed by Teves' legal team.

The DOJ emphasized the significance of the court's decision and reiterated its commitment to transparency throughout the extradition process.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla viewed the court's rejection as a significant step forward in the pursuit of justice. Remulla noted that the ruling demonstrated how justice proceeds regardless of an individual's status.

Teves currently faces multiple charges, including 10 counts of murder, 12 counts of frustrated murder, and four counts of attempted murder, related to the March 4, 2023, shootings in Pamplona, Negros Oriental.

These incidents resulted in several fatalities, including that of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo. Additionally, Teves is charged with multiple murders connected to a series of killings in the province in 2019.

In August 2023, the Anti-Terrorism Council designated Teves as a terrorist. After fleeing the Philippines to seek political asylum in Timor-Leste, he was apprehended in March while playing golf.

Although briefly released from Becora Prison, he was re-arrested and placed in the custody of the Polícia Nacional of Timor-Leste.

The DOJ previously reported that a Philippine law enforcement team was prepared to travel to Timor-Leste to bring Teves back to Manila as soon as the legal proceedings concluded.

With the court's latest decision, his extradition now appears imminent, moving him closer to facing the charges in the Philippines.(MyTVCebu)

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