DOJ: Teves extradition taking time due to Timor-Leste's 'very young judicial system' | ABS-CBN
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DOJ: Teves extradition taking time due to Timor-Leste's 'very young judicial system'
DOJ: Teves extradition taking time due to Timor-Leste's 'very young judicial system'
Former Negros Oriental Rep Arnolfo Teves after he was arrested by Timor-Leste authorities. Photo courtesy NBI/File
Former Negros Oriental Rep Arnolfo Teves after he was arrested by Timor-Leste authorities. Photo courtesy NBI/FileMANILA -- The extradition of former Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. is taking time due to Timor-Leste's "very young judicial system," Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said on Monday.
MANILA -- The extradition of former Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. is taking time due to Timor-Leste's "very young judicial system," Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said on Monday.
Teves — who is wanted for the killing of late Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo — has been staying in Timor-Leste since March 2024, but he has yet to return to the Philippines due to pending appeals cases he filed in local courts there.
Teves — who is wanted for the killing of late Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo — has been staying in Timor-Leste since March 2024, but he has yet to return to the Philippines due to pending appeals cases he filed in local courts there.
"The appeal process in Timor-Leste seems to be endless, but we will get the news very soon," Remulla told reporters when asked for an update about Teves' case.
"The appeal process in Timor-Leste seems to be endless, but we will get the news very soon," Remulla told reporters when asked for an update about Teves' case.
"They have a very young judicial system, it is not yet mature. We do not really know the limits… They are still figuring out a way to make the justice system as sophisticated as ours," he said.
"They have a very young judicial system, it is not yet mature. We do not really know the limits… They are still figuring out a way to make the justice system as sophisticated as ours," he said.
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Timor-Leste, a southeast Asian country earlier under the control of Portugal and Indonesia, only gained its independence in 2002.
Timor-Leste, a southeast Asian country earlier under the control of Portugal and Indonesia, only gained its independence in 2002.
The 22-year old republic has yet to form its Supreme Court, and has been tasking its Court of Appeals to bear the functions of a high court for the meantime.
The 22-year old republic has yet to form its Supreme Court, and has been tasking its Court of Appeals to bear the functions of a high court for the meantime.
"I have had word with Mr. [Jose] Ramos-Horta and he wanted to learn from us on how the justice system should be ran," Remulla said, referring to Timor-Leste's President.
"I have had word with Mr. [Jose] Ramos-Horta and he wanted to learn from us on how the justice system should be ran," Remulla said, referring to Timor-Leste's President.
For now, the Philippines government will "just persist" until Teves is extradited for his crimes, the DOJ chief said.
For now, the Philippines government will "just persist" until Teves is extradited for his crimes, the DOJ chief said.
"We just persist, we don't stop and we follow up. If I have to come back there, I will go back to speak to the leadership of Timor-Leste," he said.
"We just persist, we don't stop and we follow up. If I have to come back there, I will go back to speak to the leadership of Timor-Leste," he said.
In 2023, the Philippine government declared Teves and several others as terrorists, and vowed that it would exhaust legal remedies to bring him back to the country.
In 2023, the Philippine government declared Teves and several others as terrorists, and vowed that it would exhaust legal remedies to bring him back to the country.
In February, Teves' legal counsel confirmed that the former lawmaker is still in the Timorese capital of Dili and is awaiting the decision on his appeal against his extradition.
In February, Teves' legal counsel confirmed that the former lawmaker is still in the Timorese capital of Dili and is awaiting the decision on his appeal against his extradition.
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