Former Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr.  From Arnie A. Teves Congressman 3rd District Negros Oriental Facebook page

MANILA — An appeal will be filed by the camp of former Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves, Jr. before the Timor-Leste Court of Appeal on his extradition to the Philippines, according to one of his legal counsels Ferdinand Topacio.

Topacio, the Philippine lawyer of Teves for his multiple murder cases on the killing of Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo and nine others, said that the Timor-Leste lawyers of Teves would file the appeal.

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“I cannot say much about Congressman Teves because strictly speaking the ball is in the court of our lawyers in Timor-Leste but of course I am almost certain that we will file an appeal and the appellate process will be underway pretty soon,” Topacio said.

Asked if they were hopeful that the decision of the court would be reversed, Topacio refused to answer.

“We don’t know kaya nga I do not know where the confidence of the DOJ is coming from, do they know something that we do not? If there is something going on and there are influences brought to bear on the judiciary of Timor-Leste eh mabigat po iyon,” Topacio said.

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The DOJ earlier said that it hoped that the court would uphold its decision even if an appeal was filed by the camp of Teves.

“They have been saying that for the longest time, dalawang taon na ata nilang sinasabi iyon but the fact remains that congressman Teves is still in Timor-Leste and the fact remains that all of their predictions have been proven wrong,” Topacio said.

DOJ 'VERY HOPEFUL'

Meanwhile, Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez said on Tuesday said they were optimistic the Timor-Leste Court of Appeal would affirm its ruling. 

"We have to respect the processes of Timor-Leste. They do have an appeals team, I think. But it's up to them. But you know, when you've been decided twice over and it's in the negative, well, we are very, very hopeful. And that's being kind. That the same result would come out. Sooner than later," he told reporters on the sidelines of an event in Pasay City.

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The decision of the Timor-Leste Court of Appeal emphasized that the multiple murder charges against Teves happened in the Philippines.

Vasquez urged Teves to face the cases against him before a Manila court.

"We exhort former congressman Arnie Teves to just follow the processes and let the rule of law preside the proceedings and for him to present his evidence before the proper courts in the Philippines," he said. 

When asked about a possible timeline, the DOJ official said it depended on the next move of the former congressman's camp. 

"It all depends. If they don't appeal, then it's any time.  If they appeal, then probably we have to give them a little more period. I mean, the Timor-Leste authorities to decide the matter. But it's just a matter of time," Vasquez said.

The Philippine government earlier requested the extradition of Teves.

The Timor-Leste Court of Appeal ruled twice in favor of the country's extradition request to bring him back to the country.