No Sanctuary for Killers: Remulla Corners Teves in Timor-Leste

By Louis ‘Barok‘ C. Biraogo — May 31, 2025

TWO years. Six countries. One fugitive congressman who thought he could outrun justice across Southeast Asia. Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr.’s desperate flight ended this week in handcuffs at Manila’s airport, but his real reckoning is just beginning. The man accused of orchestrating the brutal assassination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and nine others now claims he has a ‘clear conscience’ and wants a ‘speedy trial.’ Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has six words for that:

Flight is an indication of guilt.

Digging into the Deception: Teves vs. Remulla

Teves portrays himself as a man eager to face justice, claiming, “My conscience is clear,” and insisting he always intended to resolve the charges against him GMA Network. Yet, his actions scream evasion. After the Degamo massacre, Teves, conveniently fled abroad, zigzagged through six ASEAN countries before holing up in Timor-Leste, where he fought extradition with appeals that stalled his return in September 2024 and March 2025. Only when Timor-Leste branded him a threat to national security and deported him in May 2025 did he pivot to demanding a “speedy trial” Rappler. This last-minute plea reeks of a cornered man’s gambit.

Teves’ safety concerns, while plausible in the Philippines’ volatile political arena, lack credibility. Where are the formal requests for protection? Why seek refuge in Timor-Leste, with its nascent judicial system, instead of facing Philippine courts where his political ties could have ensured security? His lawyer’s refusal to confirm any intent to return voluntarily further erodes his claims GMA Network. Teves’ cries for fairness sound like crocodile tears after two years of dodging justice.

Remulla’s Relentless Hunt: A Masterclass in Justice

Justice Secretary Remulla’s case is a juggernaut of consistency and strategic brilliance. He brands Teves’ flight as a hallmark of guilt, noting that Teves was abroad during the Degamo killing and never returned voluntarily, instead weaving through ASEAN nations to avoid capture. “If he really was innocent, he would have come home,” Remulla declared, a view bolstered by Teves’ terrorist designation by the Anti-Terrorism Council for alleged killings and harassment in Negros Oriental Inquirer. His expulsion from Congress for disorderly conduct and absence seals his pattern of evasion.

Remulla’s diplomatic coup in securing Teves’ deportation is nothing short of masterful. When judicial extradition bogged down in Timor-Leste’s “immature” legal system, Remulla shifted gears, leveraging Timor-Leste’s ASEAN membership ambitions. By framing Teves as a regional security threat, he pressured Dili to act, resulting in Teves’ deportation as an undocumented alien and a 10-year entry ban Rappler. In a region where justice often stalls, Remulla’s victory is a beacon of resolve.

Shredding Teves’ Sham Defense

Teves’ narrative collapses under scrutiny. His claim of wanting to resolve the charges is belied by his dogged legal battles in Timor-Leste, where he overturned extradition rulings twice Rappler. Timor-Leste’s rejection of his asylum bid and its 10-year entry ban signal their disbelief in his persecution claims. Teves’ whining about handcuffs and detention conditions—while enjoying a solo room at the Bureau of Corrections—smacks of elite entitlement, especially against the backdrop of the Degamo family’s anguished calls for justice Philippine Star. The discovery of high-powered weapons at his family compound, fueling charges of illegal firearms possession, and his terrorist designation further dismantle his “clear conscience” Inquirer.

Blueprint for Justice: Next Steps

For the Philippines:

Fast-Track the Reckoning: To silence accusations of politicized justice, the Philippines must expedite Teves’ trial across the five courts handling his 28 charges, including 10 counts of murder. Delays risk fueling perceptions of selective enforcement, as seen in social media critiques .
Fortify ASEAN’s Fugitive Trap: The case exposes weaknesses in ASEAN’s extradition frameworks. Manila should champion standardized protocols to prevent fugitives from exploiting judicial gaps across member states.

For Timor-Leste:

Lock Down the Loopholes: President Ramos-Horta’s fear of becoming a “paradise for fugitives” demands urgent reform. Timor-Leste must codify robust asylum and deportation laws to balance human rights with its ASEAN aspirations.

In a landscape where justice often limps, Remulla’s dogged chase of Teves shines as a rare triumph. Teves’ two-year flight and flimsy excuses pale against the weight of evidence and the cries of Degamo’s widow and the victims’ families. As the courts prepare to deliver a verdict, the Philippines stands at a crossroads to prove its justice system can outrun even the slipperiest fugitive.

Key Citations

Disclaimer: This is legal jazz, not gospel. It’s all about interpretation, not absolutes. So, listen closely, but don’t take it as the final word.