Manila: The long arm of the law finally got a hold of Negros Oriental 3rd District ex-congressman Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr. who was arrested in Dili, East Timor, the Philippine Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed late on Thursday.
Teves faces multiple murder charges related to the killings of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and others in 2019 and 2023.
Teves was apprehended at the Top Golf Driving Range and Bar around 4 pm on March 22, 2024. The arrest was made possible through collaborative efforts, including Interpol-National Central Bureau in Dili, and East Timorese Police.
The arrest of Teves was lauded by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr in a post on X.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla praised the international cooperation, stating that Teves' arrest sends a clear message that no terrorist can evade justice. Teves is now under Timorese police custody while extradition to the Philippines is being arranged.
Mayor Janice Degamo, Roel Degamo's widow, expressed relief on Facebook, stating: "We already confirmed that the mastermind of my husband's murder has finally been captured by Timor Leste police."
Red notice
The DOJ had issued a "Red Notice" against Teves, allowing law enforcement worldwide to locate and arrest him pending extradition or similar legal action. Teves' regular passport was cancelled by a Manila court, and his diplomatic passport was revoked by Congress.
Mayor Janice Degamo plans to seek the Third District congressional seat in the 2025 polls, which has been vacant since Teves was ousted in August last year.
