Teves under NBI custody in Bilibid

MANILA, Philippines — Expelled Negros Oriental congressman Arnolfo Teves Jr. was transferred yesterday to the National Bureau of Investigation’s detention facility inside the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) compound in Muntinlupa after being deported from Timor-Leste.

NBI Deputy Director for Operations Antonio Pagatpat said the agency is preparing a return of the warrant of arrest to inform the court that Teves is now under their custody, in accordance with standard procedure.

Pagatpat clarified that the facility, located in Building 14, is not under BuCor’s supervision, but is operated exclusively by the NBI.

NBI Director Jaime Santiago meanwhile emphasized that the detention center is separate from those holding convicted individuals.

“Once we return the warrant of arrest and submit a certificate of detention, the court may proceed to schedule the arraignment,” Santiago said.

He also gave assurance that Teves would be treated properly while in custody.

“There will be no tricks or irregularities at the detention center. All detainees are treated equally, no torture, no special treatment. I gave strict orders. Detainees will not be allowed to roam freely,” he said.

Santiago added that Teves would initially be held in a separate cell, not as a privilege, but to help him adjust to detention conditions. “We will place him in a solo cell first so he can acclimatize to being in detention. It’s a gradual process,” he explained.

The next steps, Santiago said, depend on whether the court issues a commitment order that could determine Teves’ final place of detention.

His lawyer, Ferdinand Topacio, is expected to respond to the court’s directive accordingly.

Around 12:46 p.m. on yesterday, Teves arrived at the NBI detention facility in Muntinlupa onboard a bulletproof vehicle while wearing a kevlar vest and helmet.

Teves is facing multiple charges, including murder, frustrated murder, attempted murder, and illegal possession of firearms and explosives, in connection with the assassination of Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo and nine others on March 4, 2023.

According to the NBI, Teves was arrested by immigration authorities in Dili, Timor-Leste at around 8 p.m. on May 27.

The following day, the Department of Justice confirmed efforts to repatriate him through a joint team composed of the DOJ, NBI and Bureau of Immigration.

On May 28, at around 11 p.m., the joint team boarded a Philippine Air Force plane bound for Timor-Leste after a briefing at Villamor Air Base.

The team arrived in Timor-Leste on May 29 at 1 p.m. and met with local authorities shortly after to facilitate the deportation.

At around 2 p.m., Teves was officially turned over to Philippine authorities while in handcuffs on both his hands and feet. Santiago noted that NBI agents only cuffed his hands after the turnover.

The group boarded the return flight that same day, with a refueling stop at Davao International Airport at 7:30 p.m., before arriving at Villamor Air Base at around 11 p.m.

Upon landing, Teves, wearing a Kevlar helmet and vest, was brought to NBI headquarters in Pasay for a medical examination and booking.

He was reunited there with his lawyer and mother Zenaida, whom he had not seen in two years.

All systems go for detention, trial

Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla gave assurance that it’s all systems go for the detention and trial of Teves in the country after the government of Timor-Leste ordered his immediate deportation.

Speaking to reporters, Remulla confirmed that upon arrival at the Villamor Air Base, Teves underwent a health checkup by doctors from the NBI.

Remulla said Teves will also be presented before the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 51, which is handling the murder cases against him and his other co-accused, to undergo booking procedure.

“The trial (of the cases) is already ongoing. He will just be under the jurisdiction of the court, finally. Witnesses have been heard, and they are still being heard. We are not finished presenting the evidence against them (Teves and other accused) but we are presenting evidence as we speak. We have many witnesses to present to testify on the incident,” Remulla said, referring to Degamo’s killing.

Remulla said Teves will be accorded due process and fair trial.

“Everything will undergo due process. We even assured the executives of Timor-Leste that we will do things, observing all tenets of due process and fair play. Unlike the victims who died here. There was no fair play when 13 people were murdered,” he said.

Teves wants speedy trial

Teves has appealed for a speedy trial of his multiple murder cases, maintaining that his “conscience is clear” and that he is confident with his defense.

Speaking during his presentation to the media yesterday at NBI headquarters, Teves admitted having mixed emotions following his arrest and deportation from Timor-Leste, after two years of staying there despite his cases here in the country.

“Of course, I am sad because I am going to be detained even if (I’m) not convicted… But on the other hand, I am glad. I haven’t seen my mother for two years, and my father died last December and I was not able to come home. That was quite painful,” a teary eyed Teves said.

“My only request to the court is a speedy trial of the cases… Anyway, I trust my lawyers very well and I know my conscience is clear. I just hope that there would be speedy proceedings, so that all of these would be finished soon,” he added.

Teves is facing at least 10 counts of murder and 12 counts of frustrated murder before the Manila RTC over the March 4, 2023 killing of Degamo and nine others in Pamplona town.

Though he was abroad at the time, Teves was tagged as the mastermind in the killing of Degamo, the political rival of Teves’ brother, Pryde Henry.

Teves is also facing three counts of murder in connection with killing of three other individuals also in Negros Oriental in 2019; as well as cases of illegal possession of firearms and explosives before the Manila RTC while a separate case of financing terrorism under the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act is pending before the Quezon City RTC.

Asked if he is prepared to face during trial Degamo’s widow, recently elected Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Janice Degamo, Teves said: “I have no problem with that. I can face anybody in this world.”

Teves maintained that he really wanted to face the cases against him but he feared for his life and security, prompting him to seek asylum in Timor-Leste.

“Even when I was still there (in Timor-Leste), I was thinking, the cases here (in the Philippines) really have to end…. I’m a very honest and sincere person. I will be very consistent, even in my pleadings, I’m always saying that my concern is really my life, my security,” he said.

Nonetheless, Teves said he is still hoping for a fair trial despite his camp’s previous statements that the cases appeared to have been pre-judged by the DOJ.

In an online press conference, Topacio said members of Teves’ legal team are “more than prepared” for the legal battle here in the country.

“We always plan for any contingency. We have long been preparing for this eventuality. We have been studying cases, collating evidence,” Topacio said.

Palace: Legal process observed

Legal process was observed in the arrest and deportation of Teves, Malacañang maintained on yesterday.

At a Palace press briefing, Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Erel Cabatbat said Philippine authorities followed all the legal procedures during Teves’ transfer from Timor-Leste to the Philippines, including informing him of his rights and the pending arrest warrants issued by the court.

Cabatbat was part of the extraction team who traveled to Timor-Leste to bring Teves back to the country.

Teves’ son Axl claimed that his father “has been kidnapped and abused.”

“We have our own opinions and we respect the statement made by the son of former legislator Rep. Teves, Axl Teves. However, this is the implementation of our law,” Cabatbat said.

“There are arrest warrants that have been issued and we need to enforce them. The arrest warrant came from the Philippines and if you are familiar with the court proceedings, after a search warrant was executed, it should be returned to the (court) where it was issued,” he said.

In a video statement released by the PCO on Thursday night, President Marcos confirmed Teves’ return to the country. “I would like also to assure all our citizens that such lawlessness will not go unpunished, and it is now time for Arnie Teves to face justice,” he said.

For its part, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said that Teves’ return is a testament to the government’s resolve to deliver justice.

“Today, our government sends a clear message: justice is patient, persistent, and absolute, and no one is beyond the reach of our laws,” the DILG said.

Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said that a representative from the bureau was present to ensure that all protocols were properly observed, in accordance with existing laws and procedures.

Upon arrival, Teves presented a travel document, as his Philippine passport had already been canceled. — Elizabeth Marcelo, Helen Flores, Bella Cariaso