Former Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnulfo ‘Arnie’ Teves Jr., the suspected mastermind in the killing of former Negros Governor Roel Degamo, has been arrested in Dili, Timor Leste, the Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed on Thursday, March 22.
In a press statement, the DOJ said Teves was arrested while he was playing golf at the Top Golf Driving Range and Bar.
“Teves, who has been the subject of a Red Notice, is now under the custody of Timorese Police while his extradition to the Philippines is being worked out by NCB-Dili in coordination with the team from NCB-Manila and Dili Philippine Embassy,” it said.
The arrest, according to the DOJ, was a collaborative effort of the International Police or INTERPOL, the National Central Bureau in Dili, and East Timorese Police.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin ‘Boying’ Remulla assured there would be regular updates on Teves’ return to the country.
Meanwhile, Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo, the wife of the slain Negros Oriental governor, was elated with the news.
“We already confirmed that the mastermind of my husband[‘]s murder has finally been captured by Timor Leste police. Words cannot express how it feels to finally see the man who terrorized our province and brutally murdered my husband surrounded by police. Dalaygon ang buhi nga Dios,” she captioned in a Facebook post.
Teves, who has been abroad since February 2023, earlier sought special political asylum in Timor Leste but was rejected by its government.
The embattled former lawmaker is a designated terrorist by the Anti-Terorrism Council, and he has a standing warrant of arrest for murder, frustrated murder, and attempted murder in the Degamo and five other civilian deaths.
He is also facing murder charges in connection to the killings perpetuated in Negros Oriental back in 2019.
