Former Negros Oriental Rep Arnolfo Teves after he was arrested by Timor-Leste authorities. The NBI team was allowed by Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta to talk to Teves while he is still being processed. Handout/NBI

MANILA – The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has returned back to the Philippines but failed to bring home expelled Negros Oriental congressman Arnolfo Teves Jr. from Timor-Leste.

NBI Director Medardo De Lemos on Sunday said that Timor-Leste authorities are still evaluating the request of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) and the country’s request for the custody of the former congressman. 

“Legal process po ito ng Timor (...) at tayo naman bilang requesting party sa pamamagitan ng Interpol ay mag-aantay kung ano ang termination point at process nila doon sa kanilang bansa,” De Lemos said. 

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He also debunked reports that Philippine authorities who tried to capture a photo of Teves inside a detention cell did so in order to mock him, saying that it was only a “proof of life.” 

“Tayo naman ay pinahintulutan ng Presidente mismong ng Timor-Leste na si President Jose Ramos-Horta na kumuha ng litrato parang proof of life na nasa kanila na nga po si Congressman Teves,” he said. 

“Eh sabi namin papaano namin malalaman na si Congressman Teves ‘yan. Hindi nila mai-harap sa amin si Congressman Teves dahil nakadapa ang tao sa selda, kung si Congressman man yun eh naawa kami,” he added. 

According to De Lemos, President Ramos-Horta is also hoping for a faster evaluation so Teves will be sent back immediately where he will be facing trial for being the alleged mastermind in the murder of Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo and nine others in Pamplona last year. 

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Meanwhile, De Lemos assured that Teves is in a good condition.

“Ang sabi nga niya, natatakot siya sa kanyang buhay so sabi namin nirerespeto namin po yan at kami po ay may commitment na hindi sya mapapahamak at walang mangyayaring masama sa kanya, tapusin lang ang proseso,” he said. 

Teves was arrested by Timor-Leste’s Scientific and Criminal Investigation Police in Dili on Thursday while playing golf, after being placed in “Red Notice” by Interpol in February.

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