By JEN BAYLON
Former Negros Oriental 3rd District Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves, Jr. hopes for a speedy trial of his case as he is now back in the Philippines after more than two years of seeking asylum in Timor-Leste in relation to several murder charges.
“This is my only request to the court. I hope the case proceeds quickly,” Teves said as he was presented before the media before he was transferred to a detention facility of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City yesterday morning.
“Honestly, if the case is really worked on, it won’t take long,” he added.
Teves also hopes his charges “will finally be over.”
“Even when I was in Timor-Leste, I was already thinking that even if I didn’t return, this still had to be faced and resolved,” he said.
The former lawmaker reiterated that he was concerned about his life if he knew that he needed to face the charges against him.
Teves, now under the custody of the NBI, underwent standard booking procedures, including medical examination, fingerprinting and mugshots at the NBI headquarters in Pasay City yesterday.
Due to the NBI’s lack of a dedicated detention facility in Manila, Teves was initially held temporarily at an NBI-managed facility inside the Bureau of Fire Protection compound.
He was transferred to Building 14, a detention facility under the NBI located within the New Bilibid Prison complex in Muntinlupa City yesterday morning.
This facility is distinct and separate from the Bureau of Corrections but is used to house NBI detainees.
Teves and several others were charged with masterminding the murder of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and nine individuals in the late governor’s residence in Pamplona town in March 2023.
These charges include 10 counts of murder, 13 counts of frustrated murder, four counts of attempted murder, illegal possession of firearms and explosives, and cases under the Terrorist Financing Prevention and Suppression Act, filed in various Regional Trial Courts in Manila, Quezon City, and Negros Oriental’s Bayawan City.
He has denied any hand in the murder of Degamo.
Teves was arrested on Tuesday, May 27, in Timor-Leste, where he sought asylum, and deported to the Philippines on Thursday night, May 29.
Marathon hearing
Degamo’s wife, Pamplona Mayor and Negros Oriental 3rd District Representative-elect Janice Degamo, wants marathon hearings for a faster trial of Teves.
“There is a need for a marathon hearing to happen,” Janice said in a “Balitanghali” interview yesterday.
“We are also comparing it to other murder cases. It took them 10 years to issue the court’s decision, and that will be a very long wait. We are looking at angles where the trial can be expedited,” she added.
She said their lawyers will make the request for marathon hearings.
Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla assured that the Philippine government will comply with conditions set by Timor-Leste on Teves’ deportation, including guarantees against the death penalty, torture and inhumane treatment.
Remulla emphasized that the Philippines has a more advanced and mature legal system than Timor-Leste.
Teves will soon be arraigned before the Manila Regional Trial Court to face the charges filed against him.
The freeze order on Teves’ assets remains due to his designation as a terrorist by the Anti-Terrorism Council. / With reports from GMA Integrated News / JB, WDJ