Fugitive former Negros Oriental Third District Congressman Arnolfo Teves, Jr. is still in Timor-Leste where he is pursuing an appeal against his extradition, Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Remulla said yesterday.

Remulla said the relatively new judicial system of the Southeast Asian state is proving to be somewhat of a hurdle to Teves’ transfer.

“Well, the appeal process in Timor-Leste seems to be endless, but I was assured that we will get the news very soon about this matter,” Remulla told reporters in a chance interview.

“Andoon lang siya. He’s in Timor-Leste, he’s there.”

Once extradited, Teves will face multiple counts of murder, frustrated murder, attempted murder, and terrorism charges, including as alleged mastermind of the ambush of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and nine others in March 2023.

He was on official leave out of the country at the time and never went back, leading to his eventual ouster from the House of Representatives.

“They have a very young judicial system. It is not yet mature. We don’t really know the limits. And they have no Supreme Court. That’s why they’re still figuring out a way to make the justice system as sophisticated as ours,” he said.

“In fact, I had word with Mr. [José Manuel] Ramos-Horta, the president, and he wanted to learn from us on how the justice system should be run because it’s something that is so important now to Timor-Leste,” he said.

On December 2, 2024, the Timorese court granted the Philippine government’s extradition request for the second time, noting that the Philippine legal system is functional and safeguards the rights of the accused.

“Well, we just persist. We don’t stop. We follow up. And if I have to come back there and go back, I will go back to speak to the leadership again,” Remulla said. (PNA)