By JEN BAYLON 

Former Negros Oriental 3rd District Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr., tagged as the mastermind in the slay of Governor Roel Degamo in 2023, was arrested by immigration authorities anew on Tuesday night, May 27, at his residence in Timor-Leste, where he sought asylum.

In a 10-second Facebook video posted by his son Axl yesterday, Arnolfo was seen being forced out of his residence by individuals believed to be police and immigration officers in Timor-Leste.

“They just came in forcefully, took him out forcefully,” Axl said in the video.

No warrant or any other documents were allegedly shown during the arrest.

“They just picked him up without documents, without warrants or any form of legal documents,” he added.

Teves was placed under the custody of Timor-Leste immigration police, based on a report by local media hatutan.com.

“We are held against our will. They are not letting me go,” Teves said in the Facebook video.

Meanwhile, Teves’ lawyer Ferdinand Topacio confirmed the arrest, stating that his client was with his Timor-Leste counsel, Joao Serra, as he was taken by the immigration police.

Topacio claimed that there was “no warrant or any written authority” shown to Teves, who was “a little harmed.”

He said the former lawmaker and Serra were detained in the compound of Timor-Leste’s Ministry of the Interior.

Topacio said they filed a habeas corpus petition following the arrest in Timor-Leste.

Teves and several others have been charged with the murder of Degamo and nine individuals in the late governor’s residence in Negros Oriental’s Pamplona town in March 2023.

Teves was out of the country at that time and had not returned since. He applied for asylum in Timor-Leste.

He was first arrested in March 2024 through an International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) red notice.

‘Bring Teves back’

The Department of Justice (DOJ) reiterated yesterday that they are preparing to bring Teves back to the Philippines to face the charges.

“We remain ready and committed to bring Teves to justice in accordance with the rule of law and the principles of international cooperation,” the DOJ said in a statement.

The DOJ has already initiated extradition proceedings in Timor-Leste for Teves to face his multiple charges.

“While we welcome the recent pronouncements from Timor-Leste indicating a renewed position that Teves should not remain in their territory, we await their action — whether he should simply be deported for being an undocumented foreigner or extradited forthwith pursuant to our pending application,” the DOJ said.

“Nonetheless, we are ready to arrange the transfer of custody by the most expeditious means once we are clarified on this issue,” it added.

Arrest ‘welcomed’

Negros Oriental 3rd District Representative-elect Janice Vallega Degamo, the wife of slain Governor Degamo, said Teves’ arrest marks a major development in the pursuit of justice for the victims of the Pamplona Massacre in 2023.

“This arrest is not only for our family, but for the people of Negros Oriental and the entire nation who were shaken by the horrific footage of my husband and nine others being mercilessly gunned down,” Degamo said in a statement.

She emphasized that for over two years, their call for accountability has been “clear and unwavering,” insisting that those responsible for the “heinous crime must be held accountable, no matter how far they run or how long they hide.”

Degamo believed the arrest was due to Teves’ status as an illegal alien — he had no valid Philippine passport — and his being the subject of an Interpol alert, as well as a standing warrant from the DOJ.

“Let this serve as a reminder that no one is above the law,” she said.

She underscored that the apprehension of Teves reaffirms the strength of international cooperation and the collective pursuit of justice.

The congresswoman expressed hope that the proper legal proceedings will now move forward, bringing “lasting peace to our province and long-overdue justice for my beloved Roel and the hundreds of others who suffered at the hands of the Teves Terrorist Group.”/With reports from ABS-CBN News / GMA Integrated News / JB, WDJ