The Department of Justice (DOJ) said it remained confident that the Timor-Leste Court of Appeals would uphold its decision to extradite former Negros Oriental Third District Representative Arnolfo Teves, Jr.

Teves, through his local legal team, filed his motion for reconsideration for the reversal of the order of the Timor-Leste government.

Teves files appeal for reversal of Timor-Leste’s extradition decision

“It seems like a rehash of their arguments to begin with, political persecution, the fact that we have death penalty here, and all these arguments which have already been ruled upon before. There’s little that they can argue in addition to what they’ve already argued before, that’s why we are doubly confident na magkakaroon tayo ulit ng confirmation of the decision that was first rendered,” said DOJ Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano.

The Philippine government has requested the extradition of Teves, who is facing multiple murder cases in Manila for the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and nine others.

“It will take a lot for the Court of Appeals to reverse its decision lalo na lahat ng issues diniscuss talaga lengthily and comprehensively. So we believe na hindi talaga ire-reverse ang una nilang decision and after that, magkakaroon na ng desisyon iyong Court of Appeals, and we can proceed already with the extraction,” Clavano said. (ABS-CBN News)