Philippines Confirms Arrest of Fugitive Arnolfo Teves Jr. in East Timor

MANILA: The Department of Justice announced late Thursday the capture of Arnolfo ‘Arnie’ Teves Jr., a former congressman and designated terrorist, in Dili, East Timor.

According to Philippines News Agency, Teves was apprehended at the Top Golf Driving Range and Bar by local authorities at approximately 4 p.m. Thursday. He faces multiple murder charges, including involvement in the March 2023 assassination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and nine others, and additional charges dating back to 2019. Mayor Janice Degamo of Pamplona, Negros Oriental, the widow of the slain governor, expressed relief over the arrest, crediting it to the collaborative efforts of international law enforcement agencies, including Interpol’s National Central Bureau in Dili and the East Timorese Police.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla emphasized the arrest as a victory for international cooperation against terrorism. Plans for Teves’s extradition to the Philippines are underway, with coordination between the Interpol offices in Dili and Manila and the Philippine Embassy in Dili. The arrest followed a Red Notice issued by Interpol and efforts by Philippine authorities to bring Teves to justice, including the revocation of his passports. Remulla praised the global and local law enforcement for their dedication to fighting terrorism and maintaining peace.