Following the arrest of expelled Congressman Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. on the evening of Tuesday, May 27, Timor-Leste laid out an agreement with the Philippines as part of the official process of transferring custody.
The turnover was conducted under strict conditions designed to uphold and protect the human rights of the accused.
In a press conference on Friday, May 30, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) presented a document of “Certificate of Handover” dated March 20, 2025, which states that the extradition is “strictly conditional upon the full adherence by the Philippines to the binding Diplomatic Assurances provided”.
This includes human rights guarantees required by Timor-Leste’s courts before approving the extradition to the Philippines.
Following are the conditions imposed by Timor-Leste:
- No Irreducible Life Imprisonment
- Sentence Limitations
- No Death Penalty
- Absolute Prohibition
- Detention and Monitoring
- No Coerced Evidence
- Fair and Public Trial
- Non-Political Prosecution
Furthermore, the document emphasized that the Diplomatic Assurances affirmed legally binding provided addressing the concerns of the Timor-Leste Court of Appeals.
"Timor-Leste will accompany the criminal proceedings and detention, to make sure that all the key guarantees in this document are fulfilled,” the document noted.
"As grounded in the Philippine Constitution, national laws (RA 9346, Revised Penal Code), and international treaties (CAT, ICCPR), Timor-Leste delivers Mr. Teves Jr. with the explicit understanding that these Assurances will be strictly observed by the Philippines," wrote in the document.
Meanwhile, NBI Director Jaime Santiago told DZRH that the government of Timor-Leste may observe the trial proceedings against former Congressman Arnie Teves Jr., but they are not allowed to interfere.
“They can also always observe, observer lang but they cannot meddle," Santiago stressed.
Teves is currently being detained at the NBI facility in Muntinlupa.
He arrived at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Thursday evening at 11:18 p.m. aboard a Philippine Air Force (PAF) plane.
The former lawmaker was arrested in Timor-Leste on May 27, as confirmed by his son, Axl Teves.
He is facing charges of 10 counts of murder, 12 counts of frustrated murder, and 4 counts of attempted murder in connection with the assassination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.
